Rajahmundry: Central government agencies appear to be in no hurry to affect the city’s change of name though the state government had issued a notification renaming Rajahmundry as Rajamahendravaram a few months ago. Though all state government offices, corporations and other establishments have changed from Rajahmundry to Rajamahendravaram, several Central agencies are yet to the affect the change, citing various reasons.

The Rajahmundry airport located at Madhurapudi, a few km from the city, still displays Rajahmundry on its name board. The airport authorities say that unless the Centre issues a gazette notification changing the name of the city and sends it to the Union ministry of civil aviation which in turn forwards it to the Airport Authority of India, the name change will not become effective.

Once the changed name is sent to department of Information Technology, it will affect the requisite changes in the software meant for booking of air tickets to various airlines including domestic, national and international. Rajahmundry airport director Raj Kishore said, “We are ready to affect the name change as soon as we get directions from the concerned authorities and until then, we will maintain status quo.”

Indian railway authorities also have a similar explanation to give with regard to the name change. They say that once the Centre issues a gazette notification on name change, the Union ministry of railways will issue directions to the Railway Board which in turn gives directions to local authorities in South Central Railway Vijayawada division to do the needful. Name boards being displayed at outside of the railway station and also inside the railway station on the platforms display the old name of Rajahmundry.

The railway authorities also have to affect name change in its software for booking of tickets and also on display boards on trains originating at Rajahmundry railway station. Rajahmundry railway station master Bh. Subramanya Sastri said, “We have received a letter from East Godavari collector about the name change of the city and we have communicated to the authorities. Once we get orders from them, we will change the name on display boards.”