Indian Railways operates more than 7,000 railway stations across the country. These stations are categorised into different grades, from Grade One to Grade Six, based on their annual revenue and passenger
footfall.
Grade One stations are those that generate the highest income, earning over Rs 500 crore annually and handling more than 2 crore passengers each year.
Let’s take a closer look at these high-performing stations and the staggering revenues they generate.
Indian Railways: A Vast And Busy Network
According to Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity at the Ministry of Railways, the railway network in India spans over 70,000 kilometres. Roughly 13,000 passenger trains operate on this network daily, and when freight trains are included, the total rises to 23,000 trains.
More than 2 crore people travel via Indian Railways every single day. The ministry has set ambitious targets to increase passenger numbers, and ongoing efforts suggest these goals may be reached in the coming years.
The Crown Jewels: Top 5 Highest-Earning Stations
Here are the top five railway stations in India based on revenue:
- New Delhi Station (Delhi): Rs 3,337 crore
- Chennai Central (Tamil Nadu): Rs 1,299 crore
- Secunderabad (Telangana): Rs 1,276 crore
- Howrah Junction (West Bengal): Rs 1,276 crore
- Hazrat Nizamuddin (Delhi): Rs 1,227 crore
While New Delhi tops the chart by a significant margin, the difference in revenue between the next four is relatively narrow.
Other Grade One Stations Raking In Revenue
Apart from the top five, these major stations also make it to the Grade One list by earning over Rs 500 crore annually:
- Mumbai CST
- Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (Mumbai)
- Surat
- Ahmedabad
- Anand Vihar (Delhi)
- Patna
- Pune
- Vijayawada
- Jaipur
- Nagpur
- Thane
- Agra Cantt
- Ambala Cantt
- Bengaluru
- Bareilly
- Kalyan
These stations not only generate massive revenue but also serve as key transit points for millions of passengers across India.
Is Your Local Station On The List?
With the stations listed above classified as Grade One for their impressive revenue and high passenger traffic, it’s well worth checking if your local station is among them.
As the Indian Railways continues to modernise and expand its services, the role of these high-performing stations will be pivotal in funding improvements and maintaining one of the world’s largest railway networks.
