Which Railway Station Is the Largest in India by Platform and Area?
India is home to a vast and fascinating railway network, featuring some of the world's most impressive stations. This page explores the Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India, based on platforms, area, and passenger traffic. Let’s discover where these grand stations are, and what makes them special!
Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India: List & Key Details
| Rank | Railway Station | City/State | Number of Platforms | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howrah Junction | Howrah, West Bengal | 23 | Oldest & largest by platforms and area; busiest in India |
| 2 | Sealdah Junction | Kolkata, West Bengal | 21 | Major suburban & intercity trains; vast station complex |
| 3 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus | Mumbai, Maharashtra | 18 | UNESCO World Heritage; busiest in Maharashtra |
| 4 | Chennai Central | Chennai, Tamil Nadu | 17 | Iconic southern terminal; historic architecture |
| 5 | New Delhi Railway Station | New Delhi, Delhi | 16 | Modern amenities; handles over 500,000 passengers daily |
| 6 | Ahmedabad Junction | Ahmedabad, Gujarat | 12 | Gujarat’s largest; major Western Railway hub |
| 7 | Kharagpur Junction | Kharagpur, West Bengal | 12 | Third-longest platform in India; strategic Eastern hub |
| 8 | Kanpur Central | Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Primary North-Central terminal; handles freight & passengers |
| 9 | Prayagraj Junction | Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh | 10 | Major northern convergence point; busy during Kumbh Mela |
| 10 | Vijayawada Junction | Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh | 10 | Largest in Andhra Pradesh; central Southern Railway node |
These top ten largest railway stations in India are vital for travel, trade, and tourism, reflecting the country’s engineering scale and historical heritage. Each station listed above is unique for its capacity, design, or connectivity.
What Makes the Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India Remarkable?
The Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India stand out for more than just their size. They serve as lifelines for millions, connect major cities, and often feature world-class facilities. From the architectural elegance of Mumbai CST to the vast scale of Howrah Junction, these stations are symbols of India’s progress and tradition.
**Howrah Junction** is India’s biggest railway station platform-wise and is one of the busiest railway stations in the world.
**Sealdah Junction** ranks high due to its massive daily commuter crowd and organized system.
Several stations, such as Kharagpur Junction, are famous for having among the top ten longest railway station platforms in India.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus shines as the only UNESCO-listed station among the top 10 biggest railway stations in India by area and heritage.
Stations like New Delhi and Kanpur Central are critical hubs for both passenger and freight transport.
Explore related General Knowledge topics
How Are the Largest Railway Stations in India Ranked?
The top ten biggest railway stations in India are ranked using multiple factors—number of platforms, total area, tracks, and passenger handling capacity. Some stations also have unique records, such as Kharagpur’s exceptionally long platform, or Howrah’s extensive area and daily traffic.
Platform Count: Howrah (23), Sealdah (21), CST (18), Chennai Central (17), and more.
Area Covered: Some, like Howrah and Mumbai CST, are massive by land area as per top ten largest railway stations in India by area and Wikipedia data.
Records: Kharagpur Junction holds global records for platform length; Howrah is often cited as the busiest railway station in India.
Discover more facts about Indian Railways
Fun Facts: Biggest Railway Stations in India & The World
Did you know? The top 10 biggest railway station in India are also recognized globally for their size and rush. For example, Howrah and CST are comparable to largest stations in Asia. Some stations like Kharagpur have platforms among the world’s longest! Each of these hubs is a city within a city.
Howrah Junction is sometimes compared to the biggest railway station in the world by its train-handling capacity.
Sealdah and Chennai Central are often included in top ten busiest and largest railway stations in India Wikipedia lists.
You can get printable top ten largest railway stations in India PDF tables for exam reference or projects from various sources.
Check other major transport hubs in India
Importance of the Top 10 Largest Railway Stations in India
These top 10 biggest railway stations in India by area and passenger traffic play a vital role in national integration and growth. They handle lakhs of travellers every day, facilitate economic movement, and showcase the best of Indian engineering and history. Exploring these stations is a must for railway enthusiasts and students of general knowledge!
Whether for study, travel, or curiosity, understanding India’s largest railway stations reveals a lot about the nation's culture and development. Vedantu encourages students to stay curious about such facts and use them for quizzes, projects, or competitive exams.
In summary, the Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India—from Howrah Junction to Vijayawada Junction—are more than just travel points. They are true wonders of size, architecture, and efficiency in the Indian Railways network. Their scale, history, and connectivity make them unforgettable highlights on the map of India’s general knowledge.
FAQs on Top Ten Largest Railway Stations in India: Key Facts for Exams
1. Which is the largest railway station in India?
Howrah Junction in Kolkata, West Bengal is the largest railway station in India, known for its maximum platform count and vast area. Key facts include:
- 23 platforms (highest in India)
- Area of 2,70,000 sq. m
- Major hub for Eastern Railways and a crucial economic link
2. Which railway station has the longest platform in India?
Gorakhpur Junction (Uttar Pradesh) holds the record for the longest railway platform in India.
- Platform length: 1,366 meters
- Located in Gorakhpur city
- Key stop for long-distance and inter-state trains
3. What is the oldest railway station in India?
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai is one of India's oldest and most iconic railway stations.
- Opened in 1887 during the British era
- UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its Victorian-Gothic architecture
- Historic significance in the evolution of Indian Railways
4. Which is the busiest railway station in India?
New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) is regarded as the busiest in India by passenger volume and train frequency.
- Over 500,000 daily footfall
- Handles about 350+ trains per day
- Central node for Northern India and most major train routes
5. Which railway station is the highest earning in India?
New Delhi Railway Station generates the highest annual revenue among all stations in India.
- Annual revenue exceeds ₹500 crore (2023-24)
- Followed by Mumbai CSMT, Howrah, and Sealdah
- Revenue rankings may change annually, so check the latest railways data
6. What are the top 10 largest railway stations in India?
India's top 10 largest railway stations (by area and platforms) are:
- Howrah Junction (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- Sealdah (Kolkata, West Bengal)
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- New Delhi Railway Station (Delhi)
- Chennai Central (Chennai, Tamil Nadu)
- Kanpur Central (Uttar Pradesh)
- Kalyan Junction (Maharashtra)
- Vijayawada Junction (Andhra Pradesh)
- Allahabad Junction (Prayagraj) (Uttar Pradesh)
- Lucknow Charbagh (Uttar Pradesh)
7. Which station has most platforms in India?
Howrah Junction has the most platforms (23) among all Indian railway stations.
- Located in Kolkata, a major rail hub for Eastern India
- Handles large volumes of both passengers and trains daily
- Frequently appears in railway-related exam questions
8. Which are the oldest and newest mega railway stations in India?
Oldest Mega Station: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (Mumbai), built in 1887.
Newest Mega Stations: Modernized hubs with advanced amenities include New Delhi, Bhopal, and Habibganj.
- Old stations represent railway heritage
- New stations are key for modernization and Vande Bharat Express halts
9. Which Indian station has most trains passing every day?
New Delhi Railway Station records the highest train traffic daily.
- Over 350 trains originate, terminate, or pass through NDLS every day
- This reflects its importance as India’s central railway junction
- Being aware of such stations is important for SSC and syllabus-based GK prep
10. What is the smallest railway station in India?
Ib Station in Odisha is considered the smallest railway station in India.
- Has only one platform
- Very small area and serves limited passengers
- Often asked as a fact-based MCQ in railway GK
11. What is the exam relevancy of railway station facts in CBSE or UPSC?
Facts about largest, oldest, busiest, and highest earning railway stations are important for CBSE, UPSC, and SSC.
- Help answer static GK, geography, current affairs questions
- Typically 1-2 MCQs or short notes per exam
- Focus on names, locations, unique features for scoring
12. Which Indian railway stations are UNESCO World Heritage sites?
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) in Mumbai is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
- Known for its Victorian-Gothic Revival architecture
- Symbolizes railway history and cultural heritage
- Often featured in history and railway GK questions
