Prime Minister Approves North Corridor of Bullet Train Project, Connecting Delhi to Guwahati

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the north corridor of the bullet train project. Speaking at an event where he flagged off the Varanasi-New Delhi Vande Bharat Sleeper Express, Vaishnaw stated that the infrastructure development is expected to transform travel across the region.

According to the Union Minister, the construction work for the bullet train will be executed entirely under the 'Make in India' initiative, ranging from pillars to girders. The project will be built domestically by the youth and welders of the country. Vaishnaw noted that the initiative is designed to benefit the youth, middle-income groups, and artisans in small-scale industries.

The newly approved north corridor route will connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, and Siliguri, ultimately extending to Guwahati. The project aims to drastically reduce travel times between key commercial and cultural hubs. Based on the projected schedule, the journey from Delhi to Agra will take 59 minutes, Delhi to Kanpur will take 1 hour and 45 minutes, and Delhi to Lucknow will take 2 hours and 12 minutes. Additionally, the route will connect Lucknow and Varanasi in 1 hour and 21 minutes, while the journey from Varanasi to Delhi will take 3 hours and 35 minutes.

During his address, Vaishnaw also discussed past railway budget allocations for Uttar Pradesh, contrasting previous funding levels with current allocations. He noted that the state's railway budget has increased significantly over time, reaching Rs 20,000 crore under the current administration.

Alongside the bullet train corridor announcement, the railway ministry is launching 10 Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services in Varanasi to improve urban and regional transit. These services will operate throughout the day, covering locations such as Banaras City, Banaras Cantt, Banaras Station, and Rajatalab. Furthermore, a daily MEMU service connecting Varanasi and Prayagraj will run through stations including Prayagraj Rambagh, Jhusi, Handia Khas, Gyanpur Road, and Madhosingh, providing enhanced convenience for daily commuters, small-scale traders, and pilgrims.

Vaishnaw also highlighted the operational reception of existing routes, mentioning that international media and critics reviewed the Kolkata-Guwahati Vande Bharat Sleeper train positively following test travel.

"Large-scale infrastructure projects like the newly approved north corridor of the bullet train and regional MEMU services create significant economic multipliers. Improved connectivity between major economic hubs such as Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, and Guwahati reduces logistics friction, supports regional commerce, and opens up new avenues for local enterprises, tourism, and talent mobility. For businesses and entrepreneurs operating across these corridors, faster transit translates directly to operational efficiency and expanded market reach." — Dr. Shishir Gupta, Founder & CEO, StartupLanes