NEW DELHI, INDIA (Metro Rail News): In the coming years, bullet-speed transit between Delhi and Varanasi through Ayodhya to become a reality. The project has already been commenced. The current train journey duration of 11-12 hours will be reduced to 3 hours if the Delhi–Varanasi High-Speed Rail (DVHSR) project is completed.
The proposed 865-kilometre High-Speed Rail, often called the Bullet Train, will run between Delhi and Varanasi and stop at 12 stations, including Lucknow, Ayodhya, Mathura, Etawah Kannauj, and Prayagraj.
According to the report, the transit will enable people to travel between Delhi and Lucknow in just 1 Hour and 38 Minutes. However, to avoid social impact, the proposed route has instructions to avoid any forest or wildlife sanctuaries in the route.
It is said to be a significant project as this will improve the connectivity and mobility of Delhi with other states and give a boost to the real estate sector on the proposed rail route. In addition, this project is a significant relief for pilgrims bound for Ayodhya, which is about 690km from the National capital.
The bullet train can achieve a speed of 350km and has a passenger capacity of 750, and is also equipped with the latest safety technology like urgent earthquake detection and alarm system for automatic braking, setting a benchmark for all the upcoming trains.
The project is a vital part of national multi-modal transport connectivity as introduced by Prime Minister’s GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
In Delhi and station parking facilities, there are interventions such as foot overbridges (FOBs) with Metro stations, railway stations, and the Inter-State Bus Terminus (ISBT). Similar integrations are also being suggested in Noida.
At the under-construction Jewar International Airport in Noida, the Jewar HSR station will be set up close to the airport and its integration through a proposed dedicated passenger walkway connection and underground roads to Metro and airport terminal buildings.
The HSR station in Lucknow will be built on the current VIP road, roughly 0.5 kilometres from the Singarnagar Metro station, with a proposed foot overbridge connection. The Lucknow railway station will be roughly 5 kilometres away, and the Lucknow Airport will be about 4.5 kilometres away.
The proposed alignment for the Lucknow-Ayodhya spur line (extension) is parallel to the current railway line. The Ayodhya high-speed rail station will be 2.5 kilometres from Ayodhya Airport and 10.5 kilometres from the current Ayodhya Railway Station.
The feasibility of a proposed new road beneath the viaduct that connects to the Prayagraj-Faizabad road will be explored. In addition, the construction of new highways connecting Mathura and Vrindavan roads and dedicated bus service and parking are proposed in Mathura. The expansion of the Agra Metro to the HSR station, along with parking and a dedicated bus facility, will result in a seamless integration in Agra.
A new Etawah HSR station is being built along the Yamuna Expressway at Etawah.
Prayagraj’s HSR station will be 1 kilometre from the present Phaphamau railway station. In addition, the widening of roads and FOB connections between the HSR and the railway station and bridge widening and increased regional commuter train services for integration with the existing Prayagraj railway station will be explored.
In addition, a water-based transport mode between the HSR station and Triveni Sangam could also be explored. Furthermore, a foot overbridge connection between the two stations, parking plazas, redevelopment of Banaras railway station, a station square, a dedicated bus facility for destinations in Varanasi and integration of the high-speed rail station with the proposed Metro and Ropeway Corridors may also be explored.
Survey underway
The Light Detection and Ranging Survey for the DVHSR corridor were commenced a few months ago. The LiDAR technology provides all the ground details and data in 3-4 months, wherein this process usually takes 10-12 months. This technique uses a combination of laser data, GPS data, flight parameters and actual photographs to give accurate survey data. The report contains a survey of the entire route, including soil, terrain, rivers, drains and other vital information. The route alignment is planned along the existing Yamuna Expressway, Agra-Lucknow Expressway, forthcoming Ganga Expressway and the existing North Eastern Railway between Prayagraj and Varanasi.
