Overview
- The Union Budget named seven high-speed rail corridors as growth connectors, linking Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–Siliguri with an estimated span of about 4,000 km and cost of Rs 16 lakh crore.
- Ashwini Vaishnaw said India aims to be fully self-reliant in high-speed rail systems, with trains and key components designed and made domestically, while cautioning that land acquisition will be a major hurdle.
- Vaishnaw indicated that financing plans are being worked out and that detailed project reports are under preparation for the new corridors.
- Union Minister Pralhad Joshi said he received a positive response from Vaishnaw to a Bengaluru–Pune high-speed proposal, as Karnataka’s M. B. Patil urged taking a Bengaluru–Pune–Mumbai alignment to conclusion for wider regional gains.
- H. D. Deve Gowda backed the southern high-speed triangle and sought a Bengaluru–Hyderabad extension to Bidar, while H. D. Kumaraswamy pressed for Mandya–Mysuru rail service upgrades that his office said drew a positive assurance from the Railway Minister.