Projects to link key economic, technology and cultural hubs aim to cut travel time and boost regional growth
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday announced the proposal of seven high-speed rail corridors, marking a major push to modernise India’s rail infrastructure and improve long-distance mobility.
Presenting the Union Budget 2026, Sitharaman said the proposed corridors will connect some of the country’s most important economic, industrial, and cultural centres, helping reduce travel time, improve logistics efficiency, and support balanced regional development.
The seven proposed high-speed rail corridors are:
Mumbai – Pune
Pune – Hyderabad
Hyderabad – Bengaluru
Hyderabad – Chennai
Chennai – Bengaluru
Bengaluru – Varanasi
Varanasi – Siliguri
According to the finance minister, the corridors are designed to strengthen connectivity across western, southern, and eastern India, while also linking technology hubs with manufacturing centres and major population clusters.
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