THANE: Thane railway station has emerged as the busiest railway station in India, handling about 9.3 crore passengers in a year, according to official railway footfall data for 2023-24. Neighbouring Kalyan Junction takes second place with about 8.3 crore passengers, putting two Thane district stations ahead of major terminals such as Howrah and New Delhi.
India’s 10 Busiest Stations
- Thane: 9.3 crore passengers
- Kalyan Junction: 8.3 crore
- Howrah: 6.1 crore
- Mumbai CSMT: 5.1 crore
- Sealdah: 5.1 crore
- Panvel: 4.6 crore
- New Delhi: 3.9 crore
- Tambaram: 3.2 crore
- Dadar: 3.2 crore
- MGR Chennai Central: 3.05 crore
Five of the top 10 stations are in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region: Thane, Kalyan, CSMT, Panvel and Dadar. The huge numbers reflect the region’s heavy dependence on suburban local trains along with long-distance travel. Mumbai Central is ranked 16th with about 2.2 crore passengers, and Bandra crosses the 1-crore mark.
From India’s First Train to the Busiest Station
Thane has a special place in railway history. On April 16, 1853, India’s first passenger train ran 34 km from Bori Bunder, now CSMT, to Thane. For decades it remained a modest stop, but industrial growth and a housing boom turned the city into a major residential and business centre, and its station into a key junction connecting the Central and Trans-Harbour lines.
New Station to Ease the Rush
To reduce overcrowding, a new station is being built between Thane and Mulund on a 14.83-acre plot of the Regional Mental Hospital, under the Thane Smart City project. It is meant to serve commuters from Ghodbunder Road, Pokhran Roads 1 and 2 and Wagle Estate. Transit studies estimate it could reduce footfall at the existing Thane and Mulund stations by 20 to 25 per cent. Work on ramps and approach roads is under way, and local leaders have proposed naming the station after Dharmaveer Anand Dighe.