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India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Which is India's busiest railway station? It has 23 platforms, over 600 trains, not in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna, it's in…, name is…
Howrah Railway Station New Delhi: Indian Railways has witnessed a remarkable transformation in the last 11 years under the Narendra Modi government. The authorities have introduced a slew of measures that have made the travelling experience of passengers better and convenient. From 100 percent electrification of the Railway tracks to redevelopment of platforms, the government is making continuous efforts to transform Indian Railways into a world-class network. It is important to note that Indian Railways is one of the world's oldest and largest public transport networks. It has more than 7,000 stations and runs over 22,000 trains per day ferrying over 2.4 crore passengers daily. But do you know which is the busiest of them all? Howrah Railways station in West Bengal is said to be the busiest. Here in this article, we will list some of the interesting facts about Howrah Railway station. Howrah is the terminus of the first Indian Railway system namely East Indian Railways. In 1845, a survey for the East Indian Railway was taken up and construction began in 1851. The section of the Railways, a Broad guage railway 5'6'' was opened in 1854 from Howrah to Hooghly. In 1855 the line was extended up to Ranigunj and in 1862 up to Benares. After construction of the first Howrah Bridge in 1874, the Howrah Station was remodeled and improved. Here are some of the interesting facts of Howrah Railway Station: Howrah Railway Station was established in 1854 It is the oldest railway station in India and one of the largest in area and number of platforms. Howrah Railway Station has 23 platforms, making it one of the busiest and biggest railway stations in the country. Howrah Station serves as a primary gateway for rail transportation in Eastern India It connects West Bengal to major cities across the country. It handles a large volume of passenger and freight traffic daily. The station is a key part of India's railway history. It was linked to the first train journey in eastern India, from Howrah to Hooghly in 1854. Howrah Station is known for its iconic colonial architecture. The station building, designed by British architect Halsey Ricardo, is an imposing structure with a red-brick facade, representing a blend of Victorian and Gothic styles. Howrah Station is located on the western bank of the Hooghly River and is directly linked to Kolkata via the iconic Howrah Bridge—one of India's most renowned landmarks. The bridge provides convenient access to the city's central business districts.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- General
- Time of India
Howrah Div turns 100, celebrates 171st anniv of eastern India's first train run
1 2 Kolkata: As the Howrah Division enters its centenary year in 2025, Eastern Railway is set to celebrate not just 100 years of the division's formation, but also 171 years of uninterrupted rail service from the iconic Howrah station — India's largest railway complex and a timeless monument. Originally a site of an orphanage run by the Portuguese Dominican missionaries in the early 19th century, the land was acquired by the East Indian Railway (EIR) Company, setting in motion the transformation of this riverside location into a vital transportation hub. Historians believe that the first station began with a single platform and a humble red brick structure with a corrugated iron roof. Yet archival evidence, including Kalidas Moitre's 1855 treatise 'The Steam Engine & the EIR', and the original Howrah Land Acquisition Plan, suggests that the original building may have been more spacious and columnar. The station grew rapidly in response to increasing traffic and the strategic expansion of railway lines. The need for a new station became pressing with the arrival of the Bengal Nagpur Railway line. British architect Halsey Ricardo was commissioned to design a grand new building in Romanesque style. Construction began in 1901 and continued until 1911, resulting in a majestic structure with a sweeping public concourse, six platforms, and a façade that could be admired from across the Hooghly. The design featured massive brick arches, symmetrical towers, and a dominating central dome. The northeast tower was crowned with a large clock, said an ER spokesperson. The current structure, which opened in 1905, remains a masterclass in blending architectural elegance with utilitarian function. Decorative stonework, high archways, and square towers lend it a historic charm, while the robust design ensured it could accommodate the growing passenger volumes of the 20th century. Following the Indian govt's takeover of the East Indian Railway on Jan 1, 1925, Howrah was established as one of the six divisions of EIR — alongside Asansol, Danapur, Allahabad, Lucknow, and Moradabad. This reorganisation laid the foundation for the structured development of India's railway network. Rowland McDonald Stephenson, the visionary behind EIR, earlier submitted a detailed engineering and traffic report to the East India Company, proposing a rail link between Calcutta and Mirzapore — a plan that would shape the future of rail transport in India. Now, as the Howrah Division turns 100, Eastern Railway is preparing to honour this landmark with events and initiatives that reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. "Howrah station is more than a transport hub — it's a living museum of Indian Railways, a symbol of progress, and a testament to the vision of those who laid its foundations nearly two centuries ago," said an Eastern Railway official.
