Bullet Trains in India – High-Speed Corridors, Proposed Rail Routes
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Bullet Trains in India: General Knowledge
Former Railway Minister Mr Madhavrao Scindia first conceived the idea of Bullet Trains in India in the mid-1980s. However, the idea was dropped then due to high construction costs and the inability of the customers to pay a high fare. Then in 2014, the incumbent ruling party of BJP revived this proposal in its election manifesto. The party proposed the development of the Diamond Quadrilateral, which would connect the four major cities of India: Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, through the high-speed rail network or the bullet train network. Therefore, when the party won the election, the Diamond Quadrilateral project was approved as a priority. The first high-speed rail route proposed under this project was between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and this project is currently under construction. Japan is the biggest technological and financial contributor to this project.
Several other high-speed rail routes are proposed to connect the entire of India by bullet trains, which are discussed further in this article.
Proposed High-Speed Corridors for Bullet Trains in India
Below listed are the proposed high-speed rail corridors to facilitate Bullet Trains in India:
| High-Speed Corridor | Maximum Speed in km/h | Distance in km | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Varanasi | 350 | 865 | Approved by Planning Commission & PMO |
| Delhi–Amritsar | 350 | 465 | Approved by Planning Commission & PMO |
| Delhi–Ahmedabad | 350 | 886 | Approved by Planning Commission & PMO |
| Mumbai–Ahmedabad | 320 | 508 | Under construction |
| Mumbai–Nagpur | 350 | 741 | Approved |
| Mumbai–Hyderabad | 350 | 767 | Approved |
| Chennai–Mysore | 350 | 435 | Approved by Planning Commission & PMO |
| Varanasi-Howrah | 350 | 760 | Approved by Planning Commission & PMO |
Proposed Rail Routes of Bullet Trains in India
Mumbai-Ahmedabad Corridor
It is the only high-speed rail corridor that is currently under construction. It stretches over 508 kilometres. A 50 kilometre stretch between Surat and Bilimora is expected to become operational by 2026.
Delhi-Noida-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi Corridor
It is an 865-kilometre stretch of high-speed rail corridor for which the land acquisition is currently under process. This route will cover the states of UP, Delhi, and Haryana.
Delhi-Jaipur-Udaipur-Ahmedabad Corridor
This is 886 kilometres long and will connect the two major cities of Delhi and Ahmedabad through a bullet train. The train will pass through Udaipur and Jaipur.
Varanasi-Howrah Corridor
It is a 760-kilometre high-speed rail corridor, with Patna being a major station. As per the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), land acquisition for this rail route will begin soon.
Mumbai-Nashik-Nagpur Corridor
It is the second bullet train project in Maharashtra after the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. It is proposed to be a 741-kilometre stretch and is currently in the planning phase.
Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad Corridor
It is a 767-kilometre long high-speed corridor connecting Mumbai and Hyderabad through 11 stations in Maharashtra and Telangana.
Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru Corridor
This is a 435-kilometre long corridor that is currently in the first phase of development. NHSRCL is working in collaboration with NHAI to develop this rail route.
Delhi-Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Amritsar Corridor
This rail route will stretch over 465 kilometres connecting Delhi and Amritsar through Jalandhar and Chandigarh. The project has been fast-tracked by the government.
The dream project of Bullet Trains in India has already been initiated in parts and is expected to come true by 2026 with the partial opening of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor. The development of many more high-speed rail routes is anticipated to reduce travel time and increase ease of travelling. Besides, the project will generate several employment opportunities, contributing to the country’s overall economic growth. Moreover, the Bullet Trains in India project will serve as a definite catalyst for the future technological progress of India.
Q. What is the Diamond Quadrilateral Project via Bullet Trains in India?
The Diamond Quadrilateral is a proposed project for connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai via Bullet Trains in India.
Q. Which is the only high-speed rail route project Bullet Trains in India that is currently under construction?
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor is the only route under the project Bullet Trains in India which is currently under construction.
Q. What will be the maximum speed of Bullet Trains in India?
The maximum speed of Bullet Trains in India will be 350 Km/h.
Q. The trial run of the Bullet Trains in India is planned between which two cities?
The Bullet Trains in India project will have a trial run between Surat and Bilimora, which falls in the Ahmedabad-Mumbai corridor. This trial run is planned to happen in 2026.