Railways are undoubtedly one of the greatest boons to humanity. Nor only does it make travel easy, but it also does its best in connecting different communities and cultures in a diverse country like India. Railway stations are the connecting link between the passengers and service providers. India has some of the busiest and beautiful railway stations around the world, most of them built during the colonial era.
In this blog, we tell you about the top 5 architectural marvels of the country, along with their noted features and amenities they provide.
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Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Mumbai
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus(CST) is one of the most iconic railway stations in India. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered to be one of the busiest railway stations in the country. The station is located in the heart of Mumbai and serves as the headquarters of the Central Railways.
The station features a unique blend of Victorian Gothic and Indian architecture, making it a popular tourist destination.
Facilities & features :
- It has 18 platforms and handles over 3 million passengers daily.
- The station also houses a number of amenities such as ATMs, restaurants, book stalls, medical facilities, and more. It also has a number of shops selling souvenirs and other items.
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Howrah Junction, Kolkata
Listed among the largest train stations in India, Howrah railway station or Howrah Junction was designed by the British architect Halsey Ricardoand. Initially, it had 15 tracks, which were later formulated to 23 by the early 1980s. Apart from the most beautiful architecture that the Howrah Junction features, the station is also one of the oldest and one of the busiest railway stations in India.
Facilities & features :
- Waiting & retiring rooms for passenger
- Yatri Niwas with dormitory/ single room/ double room accommodation
- Pre-paid taxi & cab service stand
- Nearby tram and bus terminus
- Railway museums displaying artifacts of historical importance.
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Chennai Central, Chennai
Chennai Central Railway station is the main railway terminus in the city of Chennai. The 142-year-old building architecture of the railway station is one of the most prominent landmarks of Chennai. Designed during the British era by English architect George Harding, the station has 17 platforms to handle long-distance trains with 5 platforms exclusively for suburban trains. About 350,000 passengers use the terminus daily.
Facilities & features :
- Online reservation available for retiring/dormitory rooms
- Great airport, bus and taxi/cab connectivity.
- Passenger operated enquiry terminals.
- Seven, touch screen PNR status machines
- Emergency medical care centre
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Vijayawada Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh
Vijaywada railway station is located in the city of Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh, India. It is one of the busiest railway stations in India, and serves as a major transit point for passengers travelling to and from the state. The station is managed by the South Central Railway zone of the Indian Railways. It has 10 platforms and more than 200 trains pass through it every day. It is well connected to other parts of the country via rail, road, and air.
Facilities & features :
- Waiting rooms equipped with AC, television, charging facilities
- Cloak rooms available with a facility to keep luggage.
- Separate waiting rooms for female passengers
- Restaurants and executive lounges/dormitory
- Wheel chair facility for disabled people.
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Rani Kamalapati Railway Station, Bhopal
The revamped World-class Rani Kamalapati Railway Station was inaugurated by Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri. Narendra Modi on 15th November 2021. The Ministry of Railways has privatized Rani Kamalapati Railway Station, making it India’s first private railway station built under a public-private partnership(PPP) system. It has 5 platforms and more than 100 trains pass through it every day. Additionally, it features a number of top-notch amenities that are uncommon for an Indian railway station to have.
Facilities & features :
- Covered parking area
- 24*7 power backup
- Air-conditioned lobby, offices, shops,
- High-speed escalator, lift,
- Airport-like concourse with a seating capacity of 700 to 1100 passengers.
- Urban food street for passengers & passerby
