Indian Railways is a wonder in itself. The Indian railway network is the fourth largest in the world after the US, China, and Russia, with over 68,525 km in length. With almost 1.4 million employees, it is the world’s largest employer sector.

As a key player in the global railway network, IR also produces some of the largest railway stations in the country to accommodate the country’s growing population. And in this blog, we’ll take a closer look at India’s largest railway stations. Let’s explore them.

1. Howrah Junction Railway Station

Howrah Junction Railway Station or simply known as Howrah Junction is the largest railway station in India with 23 platforms divided into two terminals. It is also the busiest railway of the country and receives 1 million passengers every day. Opened in 1854, Howrah Junction has always been a point of attraction for its architectural grandeur and historical significance.

Terminal 2 of the station has the Rail Museum , which displays many artifacts presenting the historical importance of the development of the Eastern Railway. A section in the museum is solely dedicated to the history and development of Howrah Junction.

2. Sealdah Railway Station

India’s second largest railway station is also from West Bengal, which is situated in Sealdah, Kolkata. The Sealdah Railway Station also comes second in terms of platforms, tracks, and daily passenger holding capacity (+1.2 million) .

Opened 162 years ago in 1862, this colossal station got its name ‘Sealdah’ from Lord Sealdah (Frederick William Stevens), then Governor-General of British India. The station was built under an Eastern Bengal Railway Company under British rule, which is the significant reason for its Victorian architectural style.

3. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus

Formerly Victoria Terminus, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is one of the primary railway stations of Maharashtra, which was completed in 1888. The station was created with beautiful stone carvings, drawing inspiration from Victorian style and traditional Indian architecture.

The station’s architectural and cultural significance have led to its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Being one of the busiest railway stations, CSMT comes up with cutting-edge technologies like digital signage for train information, kiosks for ticket booking, and air-conditioned dormitories.

4. Chennai Central Railway Station

Established in 1873, Chennai Central Railway Station is located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The station went through several name changes and now becomes Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, honoring the former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. It is one of the stations that connects the four major cities of India, such as Kolkata, Banglore, Mumbai, and New Delhi.

CCRS is also ranked highest in the country for cleanliness, with 183 points out of 300 . It is one of the safest railway stations, being the first in the country to have a dedicated bomb disposal squad. Along with the surveillance camera, the station features security checkpoints and an Integrated Security System (ISS).

5. New Delhi Railway Station

Present in the capital of India, New Delhi Railway Station is one of the busiest railway stations in the country. The NDRS was opened in 1955 and expanded to 16 platforms as of now, with 250+ trains crossing through it every day.

The station has India’s first round-the-clock service food court featuring both national and international options. The station receives more than 5,00,000 footfalls every day, and this number can increase to 6,00,000 during festivals.

6. Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station

Ahmedabad Junction Railway Station is situated in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Opened in 1863, the railway station had 16 railway tracks under 12 platforms. AJRS is connected to all the major cities of India and is considered the highest revenue-generating station in the Western railways. The station features a Wi-Fi facility along with medical stores, ATM outlets, cyber cafes, etc.

7. Kharagpur Junction Railway Station

Situated in Kharagpur, West Bengal, Kharagpur Junction Railway Station is recognized as its fourth-longest railway platform. The station opened around 1898 and so far has 12 platforms and 24 tracks after years of upgrading. The platform handles 176 trains every day to reach various destinations in India.

Kharagpur Junction comes under the A1 category(Stations generating more than $500 million in revenue annually), ensuring digital signage, automatic ticket vending machines or kiosks, Escalators, and lifts.

Future projects and Technological advancements of Indian Railways

Indian railway is undergoing rapid transformation after the railway minister announced a $690 billion project . The budget is expected to utilize upgrading the facilities, infrastructure, and technology, which is targeted to be achieved by 2023.

The project includes the HrSR (Higher-speed rail) network, which will connect all the important cities of the country, and the trains under this operation will run at 200 km/h of speed.

Indian railway has already introduced the world’s first solar-powered train in 2017; this DEMU train has a solar roof that produces electricity for the train and has an internal digital signage display system for information purposes.

Railways stations have started installing digital signage for train schedule, delay, and waiting time forecasting. With software like Pickcel all the digital signage displays attached throughout the railway station can be managed from one place.

Moreover, under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme , more than 2000 stations will be redeveloped by 2033.

Summing Up!

These large railway stations, along with all others in the country, play a significant role in the Indian economy. At the same time, a large portion of the population is dependent on IR. So, the government of India has many plans on the plate to strengthen IR in technological aspects as well as infrastructure and facilities.