BJP Manifesto 2024 Focuses On Bullet Trains: Three New Corridors Planned

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during the launch of the BJP's Lok Sabha manifesto, pledged the development of three additional bullet train corridors in India. He highlighted the near-completion of the first corridor linking Ahmedabad to Mumbai and announced that surveys for the new corridors would commence shortly.

"We are currently in the process of constructing the country's first Bullet Train corridor. Drawing from this experience, we will initiate feasibility studies for Bullet Train Corridors in North, South, and East India," stated the BJP's manifesto.

With a focus on securing a third consecutive term for Prime Minister Modi, the saffron party aims to enhance the reach of modern trains. The manifesto highlights the government's success in creating world-class Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat trains and promises further expansion of this network.

Prime Minister Modi outlined plans for the introduction of Vande Sleeper trains for comfortable overnight travel and the launch of the Vande Bharat Metro. Additionally, he mentioned the inauguration of sections of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) between Delhi and Meerut, with plans for expanding these services and launching other regional connectivity programs to major cities to ensure robust connectivity and integrate regional economies.

In March 2026, Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that India's first bullet train would be operational that year, running initially from Surat as part of the 508-km-long Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (HSR) project. The full stretch of the project is expected to be completed in 2028, six years beyond its original deadline.

The Centre had informed Parliament in 2022 about seven corridors under consideration, including Delhi-Varanasi (813 km), Delhi-Ahmedabad (878 km), Mumbai-Nagpur (765 km), Mumbai-Hyderabad (671 km), Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru (435 km), Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar (459 km), and Varanasi-Howrah (760 km).