India’s Biggest Bullet Train Project Explained: Delhi To Siliguri, Jaipur, Amritsar & More

After the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, India is now preparing for a major expansion of its high-speed rail network that runs from Delhi. The Centre is working on four planned bullet train routes that will connect Delhi with key cities across North, East and West India. While all four projects are currently at the planning stage, they are expected to transform long-distance travel once finished. Here’s what we know so far.

The Upcoming Delhi-Siliguri Corridor

The suggested Delhi-Varanasi-Siliguri line is set to be India’s longest bullet train corridor at around 1,705 km. As per a report by NDTV, the train will pass through Noida, Agra, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, Katihar and New Jalpaiguri (Siliguri), with a potential upcoming extension to Guwahati. Once finished, the route could reduce Delhi-Siliguri travel time from nearly 20 hours to less than six hours. However, surveys and practical feasibility studies are currently underway and are at their initial stage.

Also Read: Hyderabad To Chennai In Just 3 Hours? Can The Proposed Bullet Train Replace Air Travel Between The 2 Cities?

Additionally, another proposed route will connect Delhi with Lucknow and Varanasi via Noida, Jewar Airport, Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Kannauj, Rae Bareli, Prayagraj and Bhadohi. The route is expected to span around 813-865 km with trains running at speeds of up to 320 km/h, which will cut Delhi-Lucknow travel time to around 2 hours 10 minutes and Delhi-Varanasi to under four hours. NHSRCL has already released tenders for civil design work.

What Other Corridor Are Set To Be A Part Of The Plan?

Another planned rail line will connect Delhi with Jaipur, Udaipur and Ahmedabad before connecting with the under-construction Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train. Stretching about 886 km, it will go through Gurugram, Rewari, Neemrana, Ajmer, Bhilwara and Udaipur. While the Detailed Project Report has been finalised, financial approvals are still pending.

The fourth proposed route will connect Delhi with Amritsar via Rohtak, Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jalandhar, with a future extension to Jammu and Katra. The 450-500 km corridor is expected to cut Delhi-Amritsar travel time to around two hours.

Also Read: Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train Coming Soon? Travel Time May Drop Under 4 Hours, Check All Details

India’s first bullet train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad is expected to begin operations on its Surat-Bilimora section in 2027, with the full corridor targeted for completion by 2029. In contrast, all four Delhi-based routes remain in the planning stage as the government aims to expand India’s high-speed rail network in the coming years.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons