Kathua Railway Station in Jammu and Kashmir has been officially renamed Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Chaudhary Kathua Railway Station. This significant change, announced by Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh on July 18, 2026, follows a formal notification issued by Northern Railway on July 17, 2026. The renaming serves as a long-awaited tribute to the brave officer, fulfilling a heartfelt demand from local residents and the martyr’s family.
- New Station Name: Shaheed Captain Sunil Kumar Chaudhary Kathua Railway Station
- New Alpha Code: MSKT (replacing KTHU)
- New Numerical Code: 03601001
- System Display: MC Sunil Kathua (for UTS and PRS ticketing)
- Effective Date: Immediate implementation as per July 2026 orders
A Tribute to Gallantry
Captain Sunil Kumar Chaudhary was born on June 22, 1980, in Govindsar village, Kathua. His life was a testament to extraordinary courage. On January 27, 2008, at the age of 27, he made the supreme sacrifice during an anti-terrorist operation against militants in Tinsukia, Assam. Despite sustaining a gunshot wound to the chest, he continued to engage the enemy, displaying unparalleled bravery. He was posthumously honoured with the Kirti Chakra, India’s second-highest peacetime gallantry award, and had also been awarded the Sena Medal just a day before his martyrdom.
Operational Changes and Documentation
The renaming process was formalised through Government Order No. 129-JK(GAD) 2026, issued by the Jammu and Kashmir General Administration Department. While the station name has been updated for passenger convenience in the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) and Passenger Reservation System (PRS), the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA) has confirmed that other technical details in the official list of railway stations will remain consistent.
Northern Railway, along with the Survey of India and the National Geo-spatial Data Centre, has been instructed to update all official documents, maps, and physical signage at the station premises. Passengers should note the new MSKT alpha code for future bookings and travel planning, ensuring a smooth transition as the station adopts its new identity to honour a true national hero.