Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced plans for a major high-speed rail corridor connecting Delhi to Guwahati via Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Speaking at an event in Varanasi, the minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the proposed Northern Bullet Train Corridor, which aims to transform rail connectivity across northern and eastern India.
The proposed route will connect Delhi, Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Patna and Guwahati, significantly reducing travel times between major cities. According to the minister, the project will provide faster and more affordable transportation, with bullet train fares expected to be lower than airfares. Highlighting the potential benefits, Vaishnaw said the Delhi–Agra journey could take just 59 minutes, while passengers could travel from Delhi to Kanpur in 1 hour and 45 minutes and Delhi to Lucknow in 2 hours and 12 minutes. The proposed travel time between Delhi and Varanasi is 3 hours and 33 minutes.
The corridor is also expected to strengthen connectivity between Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Under the proposed network, passengers could travel from Varanasi to Lucknow in 1 hour and 21 minutes, while the Varanasi–Patna journey could be completed in approximately one hour. Vaishnaw said the high-speed rail network would particularly benefit middle-class families, students, working professionals and patients travelling for medical treatment. By reducing travel times and offering an alternative to air travel, the project could improve regional mobility and create new economic opportunities.However, a confirmed construction schedule, operational launch date and final ticket prices have not yet been specified.
