The Chhattisgarh government has decided to name its new Capital as Atal Nagar in memory of the former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Behari Vajpayee. 

This decision was taken by the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh during motion of condolence at the Cabinet meeting. It was also decided to rename some places after him.

The Chief Minister said that acknowledging the crucial role played by late Atal Behari Vajpayee in the formation of Chhattisgarh, the cabinet decided to rechristen Naya Raipur as Atal Nagar. A memorial would also be made at Naya Raipur, his statue installed and the central park also to be named after him.

He said Mr Vajpayee’s statue will be installed in all 27 district headquarters. Also a decision was taken to rename Bilaspur University and Rajnandgaon Medical College after Mr Vajpayee. 

A national award would also be instituted in the name of Mr Vajpayee to honour national level poets. The second phase of vikas yatra would now be known as Atal Vikas Yatra.   

He said that the cabinet has decided that Madwa Thermal Power project and Raipur Expressway will be renamed after Mr Vajpayee and Narrow Gauge Line as Atal Path, keeping in mind Mr Vajpayee’s contribution to Pokhran Nuclear Test, a police battalion would be named as ÂPokhran Battalion.Â