The Ministry of Railways, in its 2026‑27 Budget, unveiled a sweeping high‑speed rail network that promises to shrink intercity journeys across India.
Among the new routes are Mumbai‑Pune at 48 minutes, Varanasi‑Patna‑Siliguri at 2h 55m, and a Pune‑Hyderabad line slated for 1h 55m.
The corridors aim to link key economic hubs—Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Telangana—boosting tourism and freight movement.
Southern planners envision Chennai‑Bengaluru in 1h 13m and Bengaluru‑Hyderabad in 2h, while a 40‑km underground line will serve the Northeast.
The Budget also sketches a four‑line expansion and an East‑West Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dankuni to Surat, to ease goods flow.
All projects will undergo feasibility studies before construction, with the Ministry targeting completion by the mid‑2030s.