The Union Budget 2026 has unveiled a series of major infrastructure initiatives, with one announcement drawing particular attention in eastern India a dedicated high-speed corridor linking West Bengal’s Dankuni with Gujarat’s Surat.
On Sunday, while presenting the Union Budget in Parliament, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the development of high-speed rail corridors aimed at strengthening connectivity and promoting environmentally sustainable transport systems.
Also Read | Union Budget 2026: West Bengal in focus with ₹12.2 lakh crore capex and big infra push
Seven high-speed rail corridors
Explaining the government’s vision for the upcoming financial year, Sitharaman said, “In order to promote an environmentally-sustainable passenger system, we will develop seven high-speed rail corridors between cities as growth connectors.”
During the Budget session, it was confirmed that a total of seven such corridors will be constructed to enhance inter-city connectivity across the country. According to the Finance Minister, the proposed high-speed rail routes will be developed between Pune–Mumbai, Hyderabad–Pune, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi, and Siliguri–Varanasi.
The proposed Dankuni–Surat corridor is expected to significantly improve East–West connectivity while strengthening business and trade links between major industrial states.
Also Read | West Bengal launches ‘Banglar Shiksha Classroom’ to bridge learning gaps in government schools
Focus on Sustainable Freight
Alongside rail infrastructure, the government has also outlined plans to expand inland water transport. The Finance Ministry announced that 20 new national waterways will be developed over the next five years.
The objective is to move goods more efficiently and in a cleaner, more sustainable manner. By shifting freight movement to waterways, the initiative aims to reduce fuel consumption and ease the growing pressure on road and rail networks.
