Bullet Train: Good news for railway passengers. Ayodhya will soon be just about an hour and a half away from Kanpur, making the journey to Delhi also achievable in less than two hours. The improvement in road and rail connections is steadily reducing the distance between Kanpur and major cities in the state as well as the national capital.
The connectivity of Kanpur is set to receive a significant boost with projects like the Kanpur-Ayodhya Namo Bharat Corridor and the proposed Delhi-Patna High-Speed Rail Corridor, aiming to enhance the city’s transportation links. Additionally, the Kanpur-Lucknow Expressway is anticipated to cut down travel time between the two cities by around 45 minutes.
Efforts have commenced on the development of a high-speed Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) from Kanpur to Ayodhya, covering a 187-kilometer corridor with an estimated cost of about Rs 32,000 crore. Detailed discussions on the project were held during a meeting between the NCRTC and the state government on May 14th.
The Uttar Pradesh Capital Region has also revealed specifics of the Namo Bharat Express project, which is designed to operate at a speed of 160 kilometers per hour along the corridor. This advancement will benefit daily commuters, students, professionals, and tourists traveling between Kanpur, Unnao, Lucknow, Barabanki, and Ayodhya.
Key points of the project include:
– The Rapid Rail service will commence from Nayaganj in Kanpur.
– The corridor will include stations at Nayaganj, Unnao, Bashiratpur, Nawabganj, Banthra, Amausi, Sushant Golf City, Jugpur, Barail, Safdarganj, Bhitaria, and Ayodhya.
– The project will be executed in two phases, with the first phase covering a 67-kilometer stretch from Nayaganj to Lucknow’s Amausi Airport, and the second phase extending the line to Ayodhya via Lucknow City and Barabanki.
The development of economic and commercial zones around the proposed stations is planned to transform them into hubs of activity, fostering business growth and employment opportunities along the corridor. This development will also provide faster connectivity for the Kanpur-Unnao industrial area to reach the markets of Lucknow and Ayodhya.
The high-speed rail project will redefine Kanpur’s connectivity with Delhi and beyond. The proposed Delhi-Patna high-speed rail corridor is expected to cover the route from Delhi to Kanpur in approximately one hour and 50 minutes, significantly reducing travel times to Agra, Lucknow, Prayagraj, Varanasi, and Patna as well.
The transformation of Kanpur into a key node in the high-speed rail network connecting major cities is projected to stimulate industry, commerce, employment, and tourism in the region. This shift in connectivity is expected to bring about significant economic benefits for the city. Furthermore, the development of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor is currently underway, with a design speed of 350 kilometers per hour, showcasing the country’s commitment to expanding its high-speed rail network.
Expressway and rail corridor will change the face of Kanpur
This expansion of road and rail projects is shaping a new connectivity landscape for Kanpur. The Lucknow Expressway will speed up road travel, while the Namo Bharat and high-speed rail projects will significantly reduce travel time to Ayodhya and Delhi. In the coming years, the distance from Kanpur to these cities will be determined by travel time rather than kilometers.