3 days ago

India’s Infrastructure Boom Shrinks Travel Distances and Journey Times

The death of distance: How Vande Bharat, bridges, tunnels and expressways draw Indian cities closer without moving · livemint.com

India is building bridges, tunnels, expressways and faster trains.

These projects help people travel between cities and remote areas more quickly.

Bridges cross rivers and difficult ground, while tunnels pass through mountains.

The Atal Tunnel has made the Manali-Leh route shorter and faster.

New expressways have reduced road journeys such as Delhi to Meerut.

Vande Bharat trains have also shortened travel times on several routes.

India is planning a much faster Mumbai-Ahmedabad train service.

That train is expected to travel at very high speeds and complete the trip in about two hours.

Together, these projects make faraway places feel closer without moving the cities.

Key facts

Atal Tunnel: The 9.02-km tunnel shortens the Manali-Leh route by about 46 km and saves an estimated four to five hours.
Delhi-Meerut Expressway: It reduced the journey from around two and a half hours to approximately 50 minutes.
Mumbai Trans Harbour Link: The 21.8-km, six-lane bridge includes about 16.5 km constructed over the sea.
Vande Bharat: The New Delhi-Varanasi service is around 40-50 per cent faster than earlier services on the route.
Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail: The 508-km corridor is being developed for an operational speed of 320 kmph and is planned to cut the journey to about one hour and 58 minutes.
High-speed rail plans: Seven corridors covering nearly 4,000 km have been identified, with estimated investment of around ₹16 lakh crore.
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway: It is being developed to reduce the road journey from around 33 hours to approximately 12 hours, with completion scheduled for 2027 according to a February 2026 government statement.

livemint.com · 3 days ago