Railway stations in India have traditionally been seen as crowded and chaotic spaces. Platforms packed with passengers, announcements overlapping each other, luggage everywhere and unhygienic conditions
at some places. For most travellers, stations are not places to pause or observe; they are spaces to cross as quickly as possible before boarding a train.
But this image is slowly but definitely changing. Railway stations in many parts of the country are being upgraded, with more attention being given to cleanliness and passenger comfort. Banaras is one of the cities where this change is visible.
Banaras Railway Station Looks Like An Airport Terminal
This change recently came into focus after a post surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) that featured a series of pictures from Banaras City Railway Station. The images drew attention because they looked nothing like what people usually associate with Indian railway stations. In fact, the visuals resemble to that of an airport terminal.
The pictures show a station that appears spotlessly clean with wide platforms and a spacious concourse. Large glass windows, a bright open layout and centralised air-conditioning give the space a modern feel. The walkways are broad and uncluttered, allowing passengers to move comfortably.
The caption shared along with the pictures reads: “There are quite a few good railway stations in India and then there is Banaras City Station. The cleanliness here is top notch and unmatched.”
Take A Look At Images Here
There are quite a few good railway stations in India and then there is Banaras City Station
Inside Banaras City Railway Station’s Transformation
Banaras City Railway Station has been redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, launched by the Ministry of Railways. The scheme aims to modernise more than 1,300 stations across India through phased development to turn them into multimodal city centres with improved accessibility and enhanced passenger amenities.
As part of this redevelopment, the station now features airport-like facilities including a large concourse, modern waiting lounges, advanced passenger information systems, food courts and upgraded restrooms.
Additional amenities such as lifts, escalators, Wi-Fi and charging points have been installed to improve passenger convenience.
The station has also undergone a symbolic change with a new station code. Banaras City Railway Station’s code has been changed from BSBS to BNRS.
Part Of A Larger Rail Plan For Varanasi
The redevelopment of Banaras City Railway Station is part of an integrated master plan for Varanasi’s three major stations: Kashi, Banaras and Varanasi Cantt. Indian Railways is working towards expanding track and platform capacity to support future growth and improved connectivity.
Under this plan, the train-handling capacity across these stations is expected to increase from around 150 trains daily to approximately 400–500 trains. Infrastructure upgrades include new platforms, better track systems and improved station complexes designed to reduce congestion and enhance operational efficiency.
Cultural integration has also been given importance as stations will have designs that will highlight local art, heritage and architecture.
