In the Union Budget 2026–27, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has proposed the development of seven high-speed rail corridors to link major city clusters across India.

The corridors will connect Mumbai–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, Varanasi–Siliguri, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Chennai, and Chennai–Bengaluru. According to FM Sitharaman, these routes are designed to connect technology hubs with manufacturing centres and densely populated urban regions, improving travel times and supporting economic activity across western, southern, and eastern India. The high-speed rail initiative is part of a broader infrastructure push, with public capital expenditure proposed at Rs 12.2 lakh crore for FY27, up from Rs 11.2 lakh crore in the revised Budget Estimates for FY26. This reflects the government’s long-term focus on infrastructure-led growth, with public capital spending having grown from Rs two lakh crore in 2014–15 to today’s level.

Highlighting the government’s commitment, FM Sitharaman said, “To sustain infrastructure momentum, public capital expenditure of Rs 12.2 lakh crore is proposed for FY27.” The corridors are expected to strengthen regional connectivity, reduce travel time, and act as growth connectors between major economic centres, boosting investment, commerce, and overall development.