Developed India needs high-speed rail; passengers prefer faster, luxurious travel: Study

India plans to develop four new High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridors by 2035 to enhance rail capacity and economic growth, adding to the ongoing Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project, according to a study by rail expert Mr. Ramakrishnan TS for think tank Infravision Foundation. The proposed corridors include Delhi-Rewari-Jaipur-Ajmer-Jodhpur-Ahmedabad-Mumbai and Chennai-Mumbai via Tirupati, Bengaluru, Tumkuru, Davangere, Dharwad, Belagavi, Kolhapur, Satara, Pune, and Navi Mumbai, with a spur to Goa. Two additional corridors—Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat-Karnal-Ambala-Chandigarh-Ludhiana-Jalandhar-Amritsar and Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna-Kolkata—are also recommended. 

The study highlights the rising demand for faster, more luxurious travel, noting that air-conditioned (AC) rail travel has doubled between 2005-06 and FY23, while domestic air travel overtook AC rail travel in FY18. Luxury bus travel, which accounts for 70% of total omnibus travel, was twice that of AC rail travel in 2024, reflecting a shift in passenger preferences. India’s experience with semi-HSR, such as the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor of Delhi-Meerut with speeds up to 180 kilometers/hour and 66 Vande Bharat trains reaching 160 km/h, sets the foundation for full-scale HSR adoption. The study recommends forming a National High-Speed Rail Technology Corporation to oversee HSR development, aligning with India's goal of achieving developed economy status by 2047 and its net-zero emissions target by 2070. 

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.