New Delhi: Indian Railways is one of the largest national railway systems in the world and it operates possibly the most sought-after public transport in the country, the trains. It has more than 67,000 kilometres of track that connects every part of the country, from Kashmir in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. Indian Railways runs various classes of express, passengers and suburban trains and in its smooth operation, the rail platforms play a crucial role. Our nation has more than 7,300 stations and they act as hubs for passengers, cargo, and vital transit services.
There are more than 15,000 platforms in Indian which enable over 20 million passengers to travel every day. Some of the busiest rail stations in the country are located in major cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. There are several rail stations in the country with some strange facts and in this article, we will take a look at the station which has the longest name in India.
Which railway station has the longest name in India?
The title of rail station with the longest name in India belongs to Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station in Tamil Nadu. Previously known as Madras Central and also called Chennai Central at present, the name has 57 letters. Notably, the record of having the longest railway station name in the world belongs to ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ in Wales with 58 letters. Earlier, the honour for India’s longest station name belonged to Venkatanarasimharajuvaripeta in Andhra Pradesh.
The railway station is the busiest in South India and is one of the most important hubs in the country. The station was built as Madras Central in 1873 at Park Town around the slopes of Periamet, then known as Narimedu or Hog’s Hill. Its century-old building was designed by architect George Harding and is an important landmark in Chennai. During the British Raj, the station acted as the gateway to South India.
The renaming of the station
The station has been renamed twice in its history. In 1998, its name was changed from Madras Central to Chennai Central to reflect the name change of the city from Madras to Chennai. Then in April 2019, the station’s name was changed in honour of the founder of the AIADMK and Tamil Nadu’s former Chief Minister, M. G. Ramachandran to Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station.
The station has the NSG-1 category status under the Southern Railway zone’s Chennai division. It is one of the most important stations in India with high passenger traffic and strategic importance. It is the busiest railway station in South India with an average daily passenger traffic of around 550,000 and is also one of the most profitable stations of the Southern Railway. The station connects Chennai with all the major cities of India including Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata.
Puratchi Thalaivar Dr. M.G. Ramachandran Central Railway Station in Chennai holds the title of India’s railway station with the longest name. Previously known as Madras Central, its name reflects the city’s renaming and honors a prominent political figure. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
