India is set to enter a new phase in railway modernization with the announcement of seven new High-Speed Rail Corridors under Union Budget 2026. With Vande Bharat trains already transforming semi-high-speed connectivity, the government now aims to introduce bullet train services across major economic regions of the country.

The proposed high-speed rail network will span approximately 4,000 kilometers nationwide. The Central Government plans to invest more than Rs 16 lakh crore to complete these ambitious projects, strengthening connectivity between major metropolitan and economic hubs.

Proposed High-Speed Rail Corridors

The newly announced corridors include:

1. Delhi–Varanasi
2. Delhi–Ahmedabad
3. Mumbai–Nagpur
4. Varanasi–Siliguri
5. Mumbai–Hyderabad
6. Chennai–Mysuru
7. Delhi–Amritsar

In addition, major intercity high-speed links such as Mumbai–Pune, Chennai–Bengaluru, Bengaluru–Hyderabad, Chennai–Hyderabad, Pune–Hyderabad, and Mumbai–Ahmedabad are also being prioritized to reduce travel time significantly.

Major Travel Time Reductions

• The high-speed corridors are expected to drastically cut journey durations:
• Delhi to Varanasi: 3 hours 50 minutes
• Varanasi to Siliguri (via Patna): 2 hours 55 minutes
• Chennai to Bengaluru: 1 hour 13 minutes
• Bengaluru to Hyderabad: Approximately 2 hours
• Chennai to Hyderabad: Around 2 hours 55 minutes
• Mumbai to Pune: Less than 1 hour
• Pune to Hyderabad: Less than 2 hours
• Mumbai to Ahmedabad: 2 hours 7 minutes

These corridors are designed to enhance passenger convenience, reduce congestion, and accelerate economic growth by improving intercity mobility.

With a massive infrastructure investment and nationwide coverage, India’s high-speed rail expansion marks one of the largest railway modernization initiatives in the country’s history.