Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the northern corridor of India's bullet train network, which is proposed to connect major cities across northern and eastern India, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Saturday.
The corridor will begin in Delhi and pass through Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna and Siliguri before extending to Guwahati in Assam, Vaishnaw said. The proposed high-speed rail network is expected to significantly reduce travel time between these cities and improve connectivity across the regions.
Announcing the approval in Varanasi, the minister said the project would benefit young people, middle-income groups and artisans associated with small-scale industries. He also stressed that the initiative would rely on domestic expertise and technology, with construction work being carried out under the government's 'Make in India' programme.
Delhi-Agra journey to take less than an hour
Vaishnaw shared the proposed travel durations on several stretches of the corridor, saying passengers would be able to travel from Delhi to Agra in 59 minutes and reach Kanpur from the national capital in one hour and 45 minutes.
The journey between Delhi and Lucknow is expected to take two hours and 12 minutes, while passengers travelling from Lucknow to Varanasi could complete the trip in one hour and 21 minutes. The proposed travel time between Varanasi and Delhi is three hours and 35 minutes.
The minister also highlighted additional journey-time estimates, including 33 minutes between Varanasi and Prayagraj, one hour between Varanasi and Patna, and two hours and 34 minutes between Varanasi and Agra.
Vaishnaw said the project would make high-speed rail travel more accessible, rejecting the suggestion that bullet trains would cater only to affluent passengers. He said fares would be economical and considerably lower than airfares.
Vaishnaw promises fully 'Make in India' construction
The railway minister said the project would be developed using Indian capabilities, including the construction of key infrastructure such as pillars and girders.
"The construction is progressing rapidly. It will be fully 'Make in India', built by the youth and welders of India," he said.
Vaishnaw added that the initiative would create opportunities for young people and workers, while supporting middle-income families and artisans employed in small-scale industries.
"The prime minister has approved the north corridor of the bullet train, which will change the lives of many. The vision for the bullet train shared by the prime minister will greatly benefit the youth, the middle-income group, and artisans in small-scale industries. People will remember Prime Minister Modi for the next 100 years for this initiative," he said.
Announcement made ahead of Vande Bharat Sleeper launch
Vaishnaw made the announcement ahead of flagging off the new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi.
The proposed bullet train corridor is a separate high-speed rail initiative, while the sleeper service is aimed at improving overnight connectivity between the two cities.
The minister's announcement outlined the proposed route and indicative journey times, but did not provide details of the corridor's estimated cost, construction schedule or completion deadline.