Budget 2026: Sitharaman Announces Seven New High-Speed Rail Corridors

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her 9th consecutive Union Budget on February 1, 2026.
• A major announcement includes the construction of seven new high-speed rail corridors across the country.
• Key high-speed rail corridors will connect major cities like Delhi-Varanasi, Mumbai-Pune, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, and Chennai-Bengaluru.
• New dedicated freight corridors are proposed, connecting Dankuni (East) to Surat (West) for sustainable cargo movement.
• 20 new waterways, including National Waterway 5 in Odisha, will be operationalized, with ship repair ecosystems in Varanasi and Patna.

Why It Matters: Seven new high-speed rail corridors and freight corridors announced in Budget 2026 to boost infrastructure.