- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 16 Jun 2026 12:07 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delhi-Varanasi Bullet Train: Indian Railways is moving ahead with plans to expand India’s high-speed rail network, with the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor expected to be among the first to be operational in the coming year. Alongside this, preparations have begun for the proposed Delhi-Varanasi High-Speed Rail corridor, a major infrastructure project spanning about 865 km and linking several key cities across northern India.
The planned route will connect Delhi with Noida, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Prayagraj, and Varanasi, aiming to drastically reduce travel time between major economic and cultural hubs.
The project is now entering an important phase as land acquisition groundwork is being prepared across multiple districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Mathura, Agra, Etawah, Lucknow, Raebareli, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, and Varanasi.
The process will be carried out under the framework of the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), with compensation to be provided to affected farmers and landowners as per official guidelines.
Following the completion of the Detailed Project Report (DPR), a high-level review meeting has been scheduled for Wednesday evening at the Sangam Auditorium. The meeting will include district magistrates from Prayagraj and Pratapgarh, along with senior administrative and project officials, to finalise the immediate execution roadmap and coordination strategy.
The proposed corridor will begin in Delhi and pass through Noida (Jewar), Agra, Lucknow, and Prayagraj before reaching Varanasi. Authorities are also evaluating potential station locations in key cities. In Lucknow, sites such as Kisan Path Motorway, Vrindavan Yojna, Ekana Stadium, and the Gomti Riverfront are under consideration. In Prayagraj, discussions are focused on areas near the Ganga Motorway and the proposed Vindhya Motorway in the Soraon tehsil region.
Once operational, the high-speed rail line is expected to significantly reduce travel times across the region. The journey from Delhi to Varanasi is projected to take around 6 hours, while travel between Prayagraj and Lucknow could be reduced to approximately 55 minutes and Prayagraj to Varanasi to just 30 minutes.