Delhi–Varanasi HSR

Proposed Operator: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) Length: 865 km Official site ↗

The Delhi-Varanasi High-Speed Rail corridor is the most-discussed of India’s next-generation bullet train proposals after Mumbai-Ahmedabad – an 865 km line planned by the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) to link the national capital with Varanasi across Uttar Pradesh at up to 350 km/h. With 12 stations from Sarai Kale Khan to Varanasi, including a stop at the upcoming Noida International Airport at Jewar, it would place the entire Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi axis within a few hours of the capital.

The corridor is in the DPR/planning stage, with alignment and design survey work completed but construction not yet sanctioned.

Why it matters

Delhi-Varanasi is the corridor that would extend high-speed rail from the western industrial belt into the populous Hindi heartland – politically and demographically the biggest prize in India’s HSR plan. Its cost (around Rs 1.21 lakh crore) and financing model, once finalised, will show whether India can build HSR without a single dominant concessional lender the way Mumbai-Ahmedabad relied on JICA.

Key facts (verify before publish)

  • Operator: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)
  • Length: 865 km, 12 stations; standard gauge
  • Speed: max 350 / operational 320 / average 250 km/h
  • Cost: ~Rs. 1.21 lakh crore (estimate)
  • Stations: Sarai Kale Khan, Noida, Jewar Airport, Mathura, Agra, New Etawah, South Kannauj, Lucknow, Raibareli, Prayagraj, New Bhadoi, Varanasi
  • Status: Proposed / DPR preparation

Explore more

Official source: nhsrcl.in

Phases

PhaseLinesStationsLength (km)Status
DVHSRDelhi–Agra–Lucknow–Varanasi12865Proposed

Route map coming soon.

No active contract data yet.