The Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Tuesday approved a proposal to rename the historic city of Allahabad as Prayagraj.
Opposition parties have criticised the decision, which comes ahead of the Kumbh Mela in January next year.
The decision was taken at a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
“I am happy to say Allahabad will now be known as Prayagraj,” senior UP Cabinet minister Siddhartha Nath Singh told reporters here.
“The government has announced this decision... It has come into effect from today.... there is a process to carry out changes and departments concerned will undertake it,” Singh said, adding, letters will be written to central institutes and organisations so as to take the process forward.