New Delhi: The Indian government is placing special focus on increasing the speed of trains across the country, with the Union Budget allocating ₹2.78 lakh crore for railways. The budget also announced the construction of seven new high-speed rail corridors and a new freight corridor, raising expectations for faster and more efficient travel.
High-Speed Rail in Asia
High-speed rail has seen rapid growth across Asia in recent years. While Japan pioneered the bullet train (‘Shinkansen’) in 1964, China now leads the world with the most advanced high-speed rail network. China operates over 45,000 km of high-speed tracks, with trains running at 350 km/h and Maglev trains reaching up to 600 km/h, all equipped with advanced safety technologies.
Japan’s bullet train began operations between Tokyo and Osaka at 210 km/h in 1964. Today, Japan’s L0 Series Maglev train has achieved a record speed of 603 km/h during tests, making it one of the fastest trains in the world, although safety features are still being enhanced. India launched its first semi-high-speed indigenous ‘Vande Bharat’ trains (160–180 km/h) in 2019, and construction of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train is ongoing.
India’s High-Speed Rail Plans
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced seven new high-speed rail corridors in the Budget, while Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw highlighted plans for a South High-Speed Rail “Diamond,” connecting Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. Travel times will be drastically reduced:
- Chennai–Bengaluru: 1 hour 13 minutes
- Bengaluru–Hyderabad: 2 hours
- Chennai–Hyderabad: 2 hours 55 minutes
The project is expected to act as a major economic growth multiplier across five southern states—Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala—and Puducherry, boosting tourism and intercity connectivity.
Other Key Corridors
- Mumbai–Pune: 48 minutes
- Pune–Hyderabad: 1 hour 55 minutes, creating a major economic corridor linking the three cities
- Delhi–Varanasi: 3 hours 50 minutes, connecting multiple cities in Uttar Pradesh
- Varanasi–Siliguri (via Patna): 2 hours 55 minutes, enhancing travel for healthcare, education, and business in North India
In total, approximately 4,000 km of new corridors will be developed, with an estimated investment of ₹16 lakh crore, reflecting India’s commitment to modernizing its rail network and positioning itself among global leaders in high-speed rail.
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