The Indian Railways is planning a major upgrade for passengers traveling through Bihar and West Bengal. Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has shared details about the new high-speed bullet train corridor connecting Varanasi to Siliguri. This project was highlighted following the Union Budget 2026-27 presentation and aims to cut down travel time significantly for people traveling between Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
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Which cities will the bullet train cover?
The proposed high-speed corridor covers a total distance of 704 kilometers. The train will start from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and terminate at Siliguri in West Bengal. According to the plan, the train will have major stops in Bihar at Buxar, Ara, Patna, and Katihar. It will also stop at Kishanganj before reaching Siliguri.
This will be the first bullet train route to serve the state of Bihar. Officials have stated that the entire track will be fully elevated. This design helps in avoiding land disputes and ensures safety while the train runs at a high speed. The maximum operational speed for this train is set at 350 km/h.
How much time will passengers save?
Currently, the journey from Varanasi to Siliguri takes anywhere between 14 to 18 hours by normal trains. With the introduction of the bullet train, this travel time will be reduced to just 2 hours and 55 minutes. This is a massive relief for daily commuters and business travelers.
For those traveling within the states, the journey from Varanasi to Patna will take approximately 50 minutes. The trip from Patna to Siliguri is expected to take about 2 hours and 5 minutes. This speed is possible due to the standard gauge tracks and modern electrification technology.
What is the budget and current status?
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman proposed seven new high-speed corridors in the recent budget, with the Varanasi-Siliguri line being a priority. The central government has allocated ₹10,379 crore for railway development in Bihar this year. The total investment for all seven national corridors is estimated at ₹16 lakh crore.
While the funding and planning are in place, the project is currently in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) stage. The Railway Minister mentioned that the actual construction work is waiting on land allocation approvals from the West Bengal government. Once the land is secured, the work on this elevated corridor will begin.
