Bullet Train Update: Big update is here regarding Bullet Train. Four bullet trains will run from Delhi, not only Varanasi, but also preparations are underway for high-speed corridors on the Ahmedabad, Amritsar-Jammu routes. Learn about the railway’s future plans. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor in India is scheduled to be completed by August 15, 2027. Furthermore, the government announced seven new high-speed corridors in the budget, which will prioritize the creation of superfast rail networks between the country’s major cities.
The government plans to develop several bullet train routes from the capital, Delhi, in the future, similar to the Namo Bharat Expressway. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav outlined the government’s complete action plan for the country’s high-speed corridors. The plan is to develop Delhi, the capital, as a major rapid rail hub for bullet trains, or high-speed rail (HSR). The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) and the Ministry of Railways are preparing a blueprint for this project. However, these proposals are still in their very early stages.
1. Delhi-Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor
The Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train (Delhi Varanasi High Speed Rail Corridor) is a crucial route. It will connect the capital of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow, Noida Airport, Etawah, and major cities like Prayagraj. Pre-construction work is underway. The train will begin at Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi and travel via Noida (Sector 146), Jewar (Noida International Airport), Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Kannauj, Lucknow, Rae Bareli, Pratapgarh, Prayagraj, and Bhadohi to Varanasi (Manduadih). A link line is also planned. The Ayodhya Link Route proposes a separate 135-km line from Lucknow that will directly connect to Ram Nagari. Currently, the journey from Delhi to Varanasi (Delhi Varanasi Bullet Train) takes 11-12 hours, but with the bullet train, this journey will be reduced to just 3 hours and 50 minutes.
2. Delhi-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor (Length: 886 km)
The Delhi-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor aims to link Delhi with key cities in Rajasthan and ultimately reach Ahmedabad in Gujarat. This corridor will connect with the nation’s first operational Mumbai-Ahmedabad line. The bullet train service may commence from either Dwarka or Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi, extending to Ahmedabad (Sabarmati) through Gurugram, Rewari, Alwar, Jaipur, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Udaipur, and Himmatnagar in Gujarat. The travel time between Delhi and Ahmedabad is expected to be reduced to just 3.5 to 4 hours, a significant improvement from the current 12 to 14 hours.
3. Delhi-Amritsar-Jammu Corridor (Length: 459 km up to Amritsar)
To enhance high-speed connectivity in North India, there are initiatives to link Punjab and Chandigarh with the Delhi bullet train network. As part of the National Rail Plan, there are also plans to extend this service to Jammu and Katra (Vaishno Devi) in the future. The train is proposed to start from Delhi (near Dwarka Sector 21) and travel through Asoudha, Rohtak, Jind, and Kaithal in Haryana, reaching Mohali-Chandigarh in Punjab. From there, it will continue via Ludhiana and Jalandhar to Amritsar. Future plans include extending the route to Jammu via Pathankot. The travel time from Delhi to Amritsar, which currently takes 5-6 hours by Shatabdi or Vande Bharat, will be cut down to under 2 hours with the bullet train.
4. Delhi-Siliguri High-Speed Corridor
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav introduced this new route during his visit to Kolkata. It will connect Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar to Bengal, leading directly to Siliguri in West Bengal, which serves as the gateway to the Northeast. The route will start in Delhi, passing through Lucknow and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Patna in Bihar, before reaching New Jalpaiguri-Siliguri. This new corridor will shorten the travel time from 20 hours to just six hours. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) and initial formalities are currently underway.