Sarhad, a Pune-based organisation, has appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to name Train Nos 15647/15648 Mumbai?Guwahati Express as the Bharat Ratna Dr Bhupen Hazarika Express. The appeal was conveyed by the founder-president, Sanjay Nahar, in a letter dated 22 August 2026, and it noted that the proposal acquires particular significance in the year that marks the birth centenary of Dr Bhupen Hazarika. The organisation said the renaming would honour his contribution to music and culture.

Sarhad describes itself as a social, cultural and educational body working to strengthen ties between conflict-affected border regions and the national mainstream. It stated that Hazarika served as an important cultural link between Mumbai and Guwahati and that efforts to foster connections with the Northeast have been part of its work. The group added that it has pursued the train naming since 2015.

The organisation said it had undertaken several initiatives in collaboration with Hazarika, including programmes that used music as a means of reducing violence, and that such engagement continued after his death with the consent of his family. Sarhad enclosed a copy of its letter of 10 April 2015 to the then Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu, in which it had proposed the same name for the Mumbai?Guwahati service. The earlier communication had also sought the naming of Train Nos 15617/15618 Naharlagun?Guwahati Intercity Express as the Lummer Dai Sampriti Express.

In its latest communication Sarhad urged the prime minister to take the initiative to rename the Mumbai?Guwahati Express during the centenary year. The organisation framed the move as appropriate recognition that would resonate with people in the Northeast and beyond. Its founder, Sanjay Nahar, has been associated with sustained social, cultural and educational engagement in conflict-affected regions.