Politics · India · 2 hrs ago
Modi approves north corridor of India’s bullet train project
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a north corridor for India’s bullet train project, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced.
The planned route would connect Delhi with Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Siliguri and Guwahati.
Vaishnaw said the Delhi–Agra journey would take 59 minutes; he also gave estimated travel times for other city pairs.
The project is intended to make journeys between major cities faster and, Vaishnaw said, benefit young people, middle-income households and small-scale artisans.
He said construction, from pillars to girders, would be carried out in India.
The announcement came as Vaishnaw was in Varanasi for the launch of new Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi.
The sources give no construction timetable or further next steps for the corridor.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the north corridor of India’s bullet train project, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said.
The proposed route will connect Delhi with cities including Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Guwahati.
Vaishnaw said the project’s construction would be fully “Make in India,” using Indian capabilities.
He said the proposed journey from Delhi to Agra would take 59 minutes and from Delhi to Kanpur 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Vaishnaw announced the approval in Varanasi ahead of the launch of Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi.
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi approved the corridor, according to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
- What
- Approval was given for the north corridor of the bullet train project.
- When
- Vaishnaw announced it on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- Where
- The proposed corridor will link cities across northern and eastern India, from Delhi to Guwahati.
- Why
- Vaishnaw said the project would reduce travel times and benefit young people, middle-income groups and small-scale artisans.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Vaishnaw announced that Modi had approved the north corridor of the bullet train project.
Vaishnaw made the announcement ahead of flagging off Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi.
- Proposed route
- Delhi to Agra, Kanpur, Lucknow, Ayodhya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Patna, Siliguri and Guwahati
- Delhi–Agra travel time
- 59 minutes
- Delhi–Kanpur travel time
- 1 hour and 45 minutes
- Delhi–Lucknow travel time
- 2 hours and 12 minutes
- Construction approach
- Fully “Make in India” according to Vaishnaw
2 sources
What people are saying
The construction is progressing rapidly. It will be fully 'Make in India', built by the youth and welders of India
The prime minister has approved the north corridor of the bullet train, which will change the lives of many.