Lucknow. Big changes are being prepared for Uttar Pradesh. It will soon be possible to travel by high-speed train from Delhi to Varanasi, which currently takes 8–12 hours, in just 4 hours. The Railway Board has given the green signal to the construction of this corridor and if the work goes as per plan, work will start on the ground in the coming 2–3 months.

Seven high-speed rail corridors

The government plans to build seven high-speed rail corridors across the country. The estimated investment on these is Rs 16 lakh crore. The new trains will run at a speed of 250–350 kilometers per hour, which will significantly reduce travel time between major cities and provide a convenient option for passengers.

Why Delhi-Banaras route first

Delhi-Banaras corridor has been given priority. The reason for this is political and administrative. Varanasi is the parliamentary constituency of the Prime Minister, hence the emphasis is on completing it soon. For this, National High-Speed ​​Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has also started setting up regional offices.

Route and station for this bullet train

The new train will start from Sarai Kale Khan station in Delhi and reach Varanasi via Noida, Jewar Airport, Mathura, Agra, Lucknow, Prayagraj. About 13–14 stations will be built on this route. Survey is going on through laser technology (LiDAR) so that the correct route and construction cost can be assessed.

Railway Board’s preparations in this context

Railway Board has given instructions to expedite the work of all corridors. Preparations like land acquisition, design and tender have been asked to be completed soon. DPR of six out of seven corridors has been prepared, while work on the survey of Varanasi-Siliguri corridor is going on at a fast pace. Now the progress report of the project will have to be submitted to the board every week.