India has one of the world’s largest railway networks, and its railway stations are much more than places where passengers board and leave trains. Some have dozens of platforms, multiple terminals, enormous passenger footfall and connections to several railway routes.
In 2026, Howrah Junction, Sealdah, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Chennai Central continue to stand out among India’s biggest railway stations. However, “largest” can mean different things—platform count, passenger traffic, tracks, train operations or the overall size of the station complex. Therefore, the ranking below considers a combination of these factors rather than relying on one measurement.
| Rank | Railway Station | City | State | Approx. Platforms* | Station Code |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howrah Junction | Howrah/Kolkata | West Bengal | 23 | HWH |
| 2 | Sealdah Railway Station | Kolkata | West Bengal | 21 | SDAH |
| 3 | Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus | Mumbai | Maharashtra | 18 | CSMT |
| 4 | Chennai Central | Chennai | Tamil Nadu | 17 | MAS |
| 5 | New Delhi Railway Station | New Delhi | Delhi | 16 | NDLS |
| 6 | Ahmedabad Junction | Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 12 | ADI |
| 7 | Kharagpur Junction | Kharagpur | West Bengal | 12 | KGP |
| 8 | Kanpur Central | Kanpur | Uttar Pradesh | 10 | CNB |
| 9 | Prayagraj Junction | Prayagraj | Uttar Pradesh | 10 | PRYJ |
| 10 | Vijayawada Junction | Vijayawada | Andhra Pradesh | 10 | BZA |
*Platform figures can vary between sources because station complexes are expanded, renumbered or counted differently across mainline and suburban sections. Current published 2026 lists generally place Howrah and Sealdah at the top by platform count.
The station began operations in 1854 and has grown into a huge railway complex serving both long-distance and suburban services. Current published sources put its platform count at around 23, with more than 25 tracks often cited depending on how the complex is counted. Passenger footfall is also enormous, with figures of more than one million passengers a day commonly reported.
Its sheer scale makes navigating Howrah an experience in itself, especially during peak hours and festival seasons.
Sealdah Railway Station (SDAH) is another enormous railway complex in Kolkata. It is particularly famous for its extensive suburban railway operations.
With around 21 platforms, Sealdah is usually placed second in lists of India’s largest railway stations by platform count. It serves a huge number of commuters every day and is an important gateway to destinations across West Bengal and eastern India.
The station’s importance isn’t simply its number of platforms. Its suburban network means that passenger movement can remain extremely high throughout the day.
For daily commuters in Kolkata, Sealdah is one of the most important parts of the city’s transport system.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) is one of India’s most recognisable railway stations. Located in the heart of Mumbai, it combines enormous railway activity with remarkable heritage architecture.
The station has around 18 platforms and serves both suburban and long-distance services. It was formerly known as Victoria Terminus and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, making it unusual among India’s major railway stations because of its architectural and historical significance.
CSMT is a crucial part of Mumbai’s suburban railway system while also handling trains connecting Mumbai with several parts of India. Published 2026 lists place it among the country’s three largest stations by platform count.
Chennai Central, officially known as Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station, is one of southern India’s most important railway hubs.
The station has around 17 platforms, according to commonly cited current lists. It serves as a major terminal for trains travelling between Chennai and northern, eastern, western and southern parts of India.
Its strategic location makes it especially important for passengers travelling between Tamil Nadu and other major Indian cities.
The distinctive red-and-white heritage-style building is also an important landmark of Chennai.
New Delhi Railway Station (NDLS) is arguably India’s most strategically important railway station. It connects the national capital with almost every major region of the country.
The station has around 16 platforms and handles a very high volume of passenger and train movement. It is particularly important for services linking Delhi with Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru, Varanasi, Amritsar and many other cities.
The station is also undergoing major redevelopment as part of the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. In March 2026, the Ministry of Railways reported that New Delhi was among the Delhi stations undergoing development under the scheme.
The redevelopment programme aims to improve passenger circulation, access, amenities and multimodal connectivity.
Ahmedabad Junction (ADI) is one of Gujarat’s most important railway stations and a major western Indian transportation hub.
It has approximately 12 platforms and provides connections to Mumbai, Delhi, Jaipur, Surat, Vadodara, Rajasthan and several other destinations.
Ahmedabad’s position as an important commercial and industrial city adds to the station’s significance. Both business travellers and tourists use it extensively.
Kharagpur Junction (KGP) has a special place in Indian railway history. Apart from being a major junction, it is widely known for its exceptionally long railway platform.
The station is generally listed with around 12 platforms, although figures can differ depending on how platforms and associated sections are counted. It has around two dozen tracks in several published compilations.
Kharagpur is strategically located on important railway routes connecting Kolkata with western and southern India.
Kharagpur is particularly famous for its extremely long platform, which has historically been cited among the world’s longest railway platforms.
Kanpur Central (CNB) is one of northern India’s busiest railway stations and a crucial stop on the Delhi–Howrah railway corridor.
It has around 10 platforms, while published sources vary on the exact number of tracks and operational details.
Because Kanpur lies on one of India’s busiest railway routes, a large number of trains pass through or stop at the station.
For passengers travelling between Delhi and eastern India, Kanpur Central is one of the most familiar railway stops.
Prayagraj Junction (PRYJ) is another major railway hub in Uttar Pradesh. Historically known as Allahabad Junction, the station was renamed following the renaming of the city.
It has around 10 platforms and occupies an important position on railway routes connecting northern India with eastern and central parts of the country.
Its importance increases significantly during major religious events in Prayagraj, when passenger demand can rise dramatically.
Vijayawada Junction (BZA) completes our list of the top 10 largest railway stations in India in 2026.
Located in Andhra Pradesh, Vijayawada is one of the country’s important railway junctions. It sits on major railway routes connecting southern India with eastern, northern and central regions.
The station has approximately 10 platforms and around two dozen tracks are cited in several published station lists.
If the comparison is made primarily on the basis of platform numbers, the leading stations can be summarised as follows:
| Rank | Station | Approx. Platforms |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Howrah Junction | 23 |
| 2 | Sealdah | 21 |
| 3 | CSMT Mumbai | 18 |
| 4 | Chennai Central | 17 |
| 5 | New Delhi | 16 |
| 6 | Ahmedabad Junction | 12 |
| 7 | Kharagpur Junction | 12 |
| 8 | Kanpur Central | 10 |
| 9 | Prayagraj Junction | 10 |
| 10 | Vijayawada Junction | 10 |
These figures should be treated as approximate comparative figures, rather than a permanent official league table, because railway infrastructure is continuously modified and different sources count station sections differently.
The answer depends on the measurement used. Howrah and Sealdah are both associated with exceptionally high passenger volumes, particularly because of Kolkata’s extensive suburban railway system. Mumbai’s CSMT is also a huge passenger hub because of its suburban operations.
Therefore, the station with the most platforms is not necessarily the station with the highest daily passenger footfall.
This is an important distinction.
Largest can refer to:
Busiest generally refers to:
For example, Howrah is frequently described as India’s largest station by platform count, while Sealdah can have enormous passenger movement because of its suburban network.
The appearance and facilities of many large Indian railway stations are changing rapidly. The Amrit Bharat Station Scheme is one of the biggest station-modernisation programmes undertaken by Indian Railways.
The scheme focuses on long-term redevelopment, including better station access, upgraded waiting areas, toilets, passenger information systems, foot-over bridges, circulation areas and integration with other modes of transport.
As of September 2026, the Government’s India Portal states that the scheme aims to redevelop 1,309 railway stations nationwide, while recent railway updates have reported changes in the overall number of stations covered as the programme has progressed.
Delhi is a good example of this transformation. The Ministry of Railways reported in March 2026 that 13 railway stations in Delhi, including New Delhi, are part of the redevelopment programme.
The broader objective is to make railway stations function more like modern urban transport hubs rather than simply train boarding points.
Howrah Junction in West Bengal is generally considered the largest railway station in India by platform count, with around 23 platforms cited in current 2026 lists.
Howrah Junction is generally at the top, followed by Sealdah. Current published lists commonly cite approximately 23 platforms at Howrah and 21 at Sealdah.
There is no single answer unless a specific metric is defined. Howrah and Sealdah are among the country’s most heavily used stations, particularly because of their substantial suburban and long-distance operations.
Major contenders include Kanpur Central and Prayagraj Junction, both of which feature prominently among India’s large railway stations and have around 10 platforms in commonly published 2026 lists.
Kharagpur Junction in West Bengal is particularly famous for its exceptionally long railway platform and is frequently mentioned in discussions of the world’s longest railway platforms.
No. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus is one of India’s largest and most important railway stations, with around 18 platforms, but Howrah and Sealdah generally rank higher by platform count. CSMT is especially notable for its UNESCO World Heritage status and Mumbai suburban railway operations.
Yes. A large number of stations are being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, with emphasis on passenger amenities, accessibility, station buildings, circulation areas and multimodal connectivity.
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