Modi government approves northern bullet train corridor linking Delhi and Agra

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced Saturday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has greenlit the northern corridor of India's bullet train network, marking a significant milestone for the country's infrastructure modernization efforts. The project is expected to reduce travel time between Delhi and Agra to approximately 59 minutes, compared to several hours by conventional rail or road.

Vaishnaw emphasized the domestic nature of the undertaking, stating that construction methodology—from pillar to girder—will be developed and executed within India. "The construction is progressing rapidly. It will be fully 'Make in India', built by the youth and welders of India," the minister said while inaugurating Vande Bharat Sleeper Express services between Varanasi and New Delhi.

The minister described the northern corridor as transformational, asserting it will deliver substantial benefits to youth, middle-income households, and small-scale industries across the region. "People will remember Prime Minister Modi for the next 100 years for this initiative," Vaishnaw said, underscoring the government's commitment to the project as part of its broader vision for modernizing the nation's rail infrastructure.