The Central government has proposed the development of seven high-speed rail corridors that will link key urban and economic centers. These corridors are envisioned to enhance connectivity, reduce travel time, lower emissions, and bolster regional growth. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced these corridors during her Union Budget 2026-27 speech.
The proposed routes include connections between Mumbai and Pune, Pune and Hyderabad, Hyderabad and Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai, Chennai and Bengaluru, Delhi and Varanasi, and Varanasi and Siliguri. These corridors aim to interconnect India’s financial hubs, technology centers, manufacturing clusters, and emerging cities, providing faster and cleaner mobility options.
To promote environmentally sustainable transportation systems, the government plans to establish these high-speed rail corridors as growth connectors. Sitharaman highlighted the importance of these corridors in enhancing connectivity and facilitating economic development. Additionally, she mentioned the formation of a high-level committee on banking for Viksit Bharat to review and suggest changes in the banking system to support India’s economic growth and ensure financial stability and consumer protection.
The Finance Minister emphasized the robust position of Indian banks, citing healthy balance sheets, high profits, and improved management of bad loans. She also announced a review of rules governing non-debt investments under foreign exchange laws to align them with India’s evolving economic priorities and enhance their user-friendliness. Furthermore, Sitharaman proposed an integrated program for the labor-intensive textile sector, including the National Fibre Scheme to achieve self-reliance in natural and industrial fibers.
