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Indian Railways are one of the most amazing and extensive networks of railways. It ranks fourth in the world with its tracks running across 114, 500 km. The unique track length already justifies how important it is for the communication within the country. A huge part of the Indian population is directly dependent on railway communication. With 1.2 million employees the railway network is additionally the 9th largest employer in the world and the 2nd largest employer in the country. The rail network passes through a number of 7500 stations as well. And amongst these stations there are some of the biggest railway stations in India as well that are most significant.
Biggest Railway Stations in India
Managed by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India this is an efficient network system. And as much as you will know about this chain of communication you will be amazed. In this article however I will mention one of the fascinating things about this network and that are the biggest stations. These are some of the busiest as well as important stations that you need to know about. Keep on reading as here I will mention about the top 5 biggest railway stations in India. This will be a helpful article for you if you are interested to know more about the largest stations in India.
Howrah Junction Railway Station
Located in the district of Howrah in the state of West Bengal the Howrah Junction Railway Station is the oldest as well as the largest railway station in India. Other than that it is also one of the busiest railway stations in the country as well and therefore one of the most significant too. Every single day more than a million people commute through this station. The first ever public train from this railway station dates back to 15th of August, 1854.
Currently around 600 trains pass through this station on a regular basis. It is also the divisional headquarters for the Eastern Railway. In total there are 23 platforms here and there are 25 tracks in total. The station complex is one of the oldest surviving railway complexes in the country. So if you are ever travelling anywhere and you are passing through this station it would be fascinating for you to witness this significant railway station.
Sealdah Railway Station
Located in Kolkata in the state of West Bengal this is another significant and one of the biggest railway stations in India. There are 21 platforms in this railway station along with 28 tracks. This is undoubtedly one of the major railway terminals serving Kolkata and each day more than 1.5 million people use this station. In India this is the 2nd largest railway station that has been in service for 163 years now since 1862.
Recently in 2019 the station has opened its first ever Executive Lounge on the occasion of the Bengali New Year. The lounge spreads for an area of 2500 sq km and comes with a lot of facilities as well Other than that there are various food courts and a lot of other facilities that are available here. These are high speed wifi, reservation ticketing zone, wheelchair accessibility etc. It is one of the majorly connected railway stations that hold a lot of significance in the lives of the people in India.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST located in Mumbai, Maharashtra is again one of the biggest railway stations in India. This is however not just a railway station but a major landmark in the city of Mumbai. Additionally this is one of the iconic locations and a popular tourist spot in Mumbai as well because of its architecture. Surprisingly this railway station is a name in the list of the most prestigious UNESCO World Heritage Sites as well.
Previously the name of this railway station was Victoria Terminus. It finally opened in 1853 and therefore it has been in service for the last 171 years. But the structure was rebuilt in 1888 and the current form of the station has been there for 136 years now. In 1996 the station was renamed as the Chhatrapai Shivaji Maharaj Terminus to honour the great Indian ruler Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj. The beautiful structure of this railway station reflects an Indo Saracenic Victorian Gothic Revival style of architecture that attracts a lot of attention. Here you will find 18 platforms and multiple tracks around 40. The terminus is the headquarters of the Central Railway and is one of the busiest railway stations in the country.
New Delhi Railway Station
The next name in the list of the biggest railway stations is the New Delhi Railway Station. And like all the other stations in this list, this station in Delhi is also one of the busiest railway stations in the country. The number of trains along with its frequency makes it one of the most significant railway stations. Every day around 400 trains pass through this vibrant station in Delhi. There are 16 platforms here and 18 tracks. The railway station in Delhi is one of the highest earning railway stations as well and a huge number of passengers are dependent on this station for their daily communication.
The station opened in 1956 and has been in service for around 69 years now. There had been some developments leading to a lot of upgrades of this railway station. On an average there is a footfall of around 500, 000 to 600, 000 passengers here. The station also offers a lot of facilities like a food court, water vending machines. Also there are two executive lounges, escalators, waiting rooms and a lot more. It is one of the majorly connected railway stations and hence an important railway station in the country as well.
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Chennai Central Railway Station
Located in the state of Tamil Nadu this is one of the biggest railway stations in India. The official name of this railway station is Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G Ramachandran Railway Station. Previously however the station was popular as Madras Station. This is the main terminus in the city of Chennai and it has major connectivity with other locations. It is the busiest railway station in South India as well. You will find 17 platforms here and 17 tracks.
The railway station opened in 1873, 152 years ago. Later it was rebuilt in 1959 for the first time and again in 1998 for the 2nd time. Every day the station witnesses traffic of around 400 trains. About 400,000 passengers use this terminus on a daily basis. From bookshops to accommodation facilities, internet facilities, restaurants there are a lot of facilities here. There is a huge waiting hall here that can accommodate around 1000 people at a time.
Wrapping Up!
So that was all about some of the biggest railway stations in India. In a country that is so heavily dependent on railways, the railway network has to be top notch. And the Indian Railway System definitely needs a lot of appreciation for the smooth functioning of communication. In this article I have mentioned some of the largest, oldest as well as the busiest railway stations. These are the major railway stations in India that witness the most number of footfalls on a regular basis. These are major terminals and connect the most number of locations. Each day a huge number of passengers are dependent on the services and therefore they use these railway stations. So do let me know if this article on the top 5 biggest railway stations in India is helpful for you in knowing about these major railway stations in India.
