Archive · 10 Oct 2026
Thane Leads India’s Busiest Railway Stations With 9.3 Crore Passengers
Indian Railways shared a list of its 100 busiest stations based on passenger numbers.
Thane station came first, with 9.3 crore passengers, and Kalyan came second.
Several other busy stations are in the Mumbai region.
Thane is also an important place in railway history because India’s first passenger train reached it in 1853.
The station is now very crowded.
A new station is being built between Thane and Mulund to help some passengers.
Studies predict it could reduce crowds at Thane and Mulund stations by about 20% to 25%.
Indian Railways data ranks Thane first nationally, with 9.3 crore passengers, followed by Kalyan with 8.3 crore.
Howrah ranks third with 6.1 crore passengers; Mumbai CSMT and Sealdah are tied at 5.1 crore each.
Five Mumbai-region stations—Thane, Kalyan, Mumbai CSMT, Panvel and Dadar—appear in the top 10.
Thane station opened on April 16, 1853, as the destination of India’s first passenger train.
A proposed station between Thane and Mulund is expected to reduce passenger footfall at both existing stations by about 20% to 25%.
- Who
- Indian Railways released the rankings; Thane Railway Station had the highest reported passenger footfall.
- What
- A list of the 100 busiest railway stations ranked by passenger footfall placed Thane first and Kalyan second.
- When
- The article does not specify the period covered by the passenger-footfall data. Thane station opened on April 16, 1853.
- Where
- Across India, with Mumbai-region stations prominent in the rankings; a new station is planned between Thane and Mulund.
- Why
- The list reports station passenger footfall; the proposed Thane–Mulund station is intended to ease overcrowding.
Project benefits
Project considerations
Expected effect of the new station
Project benefits
Transit studies cited in the article project that the station will reduce footfall at Thane and Mulund by roughly 20% to 25%.
Project considerations
The article reports this as a projection; it does not provide a contrasting assessment or evidence of the eventual effect.
- Thane rank and footfall
- 1st; 9.3 crore (93 million) passengers
- Kalyan rank and footfall
- 2nd; 8.3 crore (83 million) passengers
- Third-ranked station
- Howrah, with 6.1 crore (61 million) passengers
- Mumbai CSMT and Sealdah
- Tied at 5.1 crore (51 million) passengers each
- Thane station opening
- April 16, 1853
- Proposed station location
- Between Thane and Mulund, on a 14.83-acre plot belonging to Thane Regional Mental Hospital
- Projected crowd reduction
- About 20% to 25% at Thane and Mulund stations