Ashwini Vaishnaw Announces Ambitious Bullet Train Vision for Bengal

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday announced an ambitious high-speed rail corridor for West Bengal, revealing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of extending India's bullet train network to connect Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna and Siliguri.

Addressing a gathering at Nabanna, the West Bengal State Secretariat in Kolkata, Vaishnaw said the proposed high-speed rail project would significantly transform connectivity across eastern and northern India.

According to the Railway Minister, once the bullet train corridor becomes operational, travel time between Siliguri and New Delhi is expected to be reduced to approximately six hours, providing a major boost to passenger mobility, economic growth, tourism and regional development.

The proposed network is part of India's broader strategy to expand modern railway infrastructure and high-speed rail connectivity beyond the existing Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. The initiative is expected to strengthen links between key economic and cultural hubs while enhancing transportation efficiency across multiple states.

The announcement comes amid the Centre's continued focus on railway modernization, infrastructure expansion and improved connectivity for the northeastern and eastern regions of the country.

Further details regarding the project timeline, route alignment and implementation roadmap are expected to be announced in the coming months.