The familiar name “Civil Lines,” long associated with elite residential areas in cities across India, may soon become a thing of the past. As part of a broader push to shed colonial-era legacies, the Centre is reviewing the nomenclature of such areas to reflect Indian identity and cultural roots. The move comes afterPrime Minister Narendra Modi in Januaryasked ministers and senior officials to identify outdated colonial practices and suggest indigenous alternatives.
Civil Lines, a term rooted in British administrative history, has now been flagged for possible change.
Civil Lines were first developed in the 19th century by the British as exclusive residential zones for senior civilian officials. These areas were planned with better infrastructure and were typically located near centres of power. Over time, they became symbols of authority and privilege.
Such localities still exist in several cities including Delhi and across states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra. Historically, they stood apart from crowded bazaars and older parts of cities, creating a clear divide in urban planning.
"The development of Civil Lines was a part of planned development. On one side of the city, there was cantonment board, and on the other, Civil Lines. This is how cities have developed," said an urban planner and architect who has done extensively studied British-period planning and architecture.
Experts, as per a report by TOI, believe that while the name may change, the character of these areas has already evolved.
Former DDA commissioner (planning) A K Jain said Civil Lines across the country have been completely transformed over the years. "In place of bungalows, now you have multi-storeyed buildings; population has increased manifold and these have become part of main cities. So, changing names hardly has any significance."
"During the colonial era, about 75 cantonments were developed in India. Civil Lines were the counterpart of the military enclaves," he added, TOI quoted.
In recent years, the government has already renamed several prominent colonial-era landmarks, including Race Course Road in Delhi, now known as Lok Kalyan Marg. If implemented, the renaming of Civil Lines could mark another step in reshaping India’s urban identity while sparking debate on whether such changes are symbolic or truly transformative.
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