Delhi–Varanasi HSR

Delhi–Varanasi HSR is a proposed 865 km bullet train corridor planned by NHSRCL to link Delhi and Varanasi at up to 350 km/h, with 12 stations including a stop at Noida International Airport. Its route map, stations and latest updates are below.

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

• 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

• India Metro & Rail Project Status Dashboard
• Quick Snapshot of tracked projects
• Metro & rail Tender Tracker
• Delhi Metro
• Latest Delhi–Varanasi project news

Official source: nhsrcl.in