Railway Minister Announces First Bullet Train for West Bengal: Siliguri–Varanasi Journey in Under 3 Hours

Mumbai/Kolkata – February 3, 2026: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that West Bengal will soon get its first bullet train, connecting Siliguri to Varanasi via Patna. The high-speed rail corridor was among seven new corridors unveiled during the Union Budget 2026–27 presentation by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing the press, Vaishnaw confirmed that the bullet train on this corridor will reduce travel time from Varanasi to Siliguri to just 2 hours and 55 minutes. In the future, the high-speed rail line is expected to extend to Guwahati, strengthening connectivity across North-East India.

Budget Allocation and Investments for West Bengal
For the fiscal year 2026–27, the Rail Ministry has been allocated ₹2,78,000 crore, a 10.8% increase over the previous year. Of this, West Bengal will receive ₹14,205 crore, earmarked for multiple rail infrastructure projects, including the new high-speed rail corridor. Vaishnaw highlighted that this allocation represents the largest capital expenditure in the history of Indian Railways, totaling ₹2,93,300 crore.

Kolkata Metro Expansion
Vaishnaw also addressed the development of Kolkata Metro, emphasizing significant progress over the past 11 years compared to the previous 40 years. The metro has expanded by 45 km since 2014, compared to 27 km over the preceding four decades. He criticized the state administration for delaying work at Chingrighata, despite high court approval, noting that traffic control issues on a 366-meter stretch are slowing the Orange Line project.

Freight Corridor Expansion
In addition, the budget included a new commodity corridor connecting Dankuni in West Bengal to Surat in Gujarat. Vaishnaw stated that this corridor will improve freight connectivity across Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra.

This announcement marks a major step forward for rail infrastructure in West Bengal and North-East India, promising faster travel and improved connectivity for passengers and freight alike.