Uttar Pradesh Nears Rs 1 Lakh Cr Projects as Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri Bullet Trains Approved

Uttar Pradesh is close to completing development projects worth Rs 92,000 crore and is rapidly moving toward its target of Rs 1 lakh crore. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the government has approved two new bullet train corridors, Delhi to Varanasi and Varanasi to Siliguri, which will significantly reduce travel time and strengthen connectivity across northern and eastern India.

The Delhi-Varanasi corridor, covering about 865 km, will connect the national capital with Varanasi in just 3 hours and 50 minutes. The route will pass through major cities including Noida, Mathura, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow and Prayagraj, with around 12 to 13 stations planned. The Varanasi-Siliguri corridor will cut travel time to 2 hours and 55 minutes and will pass through Patna before reaching eastern India.

Most sections of the high-speed tracks in Uttar Pradesh will be elevated to minimise land acquisition challenges and reduce environmental impact. The elevated design is also expected to lower emissions and boost economic activity along the route. The new corridors form part of the second phase of India’s bullet train programme, following the Mumbai-Ahmedabad line, which is expected to begin commercial operations next year.