High-Speed Rail: India Unveils Rapid Travel Times for Key Corridors

• Indian Railways is investing Rs 2.78 lakh crore from the Union Budget to accelerate high-speed connectivity, freight corridors, and safety infrastructure.
• Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced significantly reduced travel times for high-speed rail projects, including Chennai–Bengaluru (1h 13m) and Bengaluru–Hyderabad (2h).
• Seven high-speed rail corridors, spanning nearly 4,000 km, are designated as 'growth connectors' to promote sustainable passenger transport and are expected to attract Rs 16 lakh crore in investments.
• Key corridors include Mumbai–Pune (48m), Delhi–Varanasi (3h 50m), and Varanasi–Siliguri (2h 55m), aiming to integrate major urban centers and boost regional economic activity.
• A new 2,052-km Dedicated Freight Corridor from Dankuni to Surat is planned to enhance goods movement, complementing existing DFCs operating at near-saturation.

Why It Matters: India's high-speed rail expansion promises dramatically reduced travel times and significant economic growth.