Budget 2026: Government proposes seven high-speed rail corridors to boost green mobility

Budget 2026: On February 1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented her ninth Union Budget in Parliament. During her speech, the FM asserted that the Union Budget 2026-27 is driven by "Yuvashakti" and based on the "three kartavyas" and made several important announcements on Sunday. One of these is for the rail sector, as the government has proposed to commission seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors and operationalisation of 20 national waterways over the next five years as part of the Union Budget.

Budget 2026: Seven high-speed rail corridors

In a significant move to promote environmentally sustainable passenger transport, the government in the budget 2026 has proposed to develop seven high-speed rail corridors between major urban and economic centres. These corridors will act as conduits for development, reducing travel time, reducing emissions and supporting regional development.

The proposed routes include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi and Varanasi-Siliguri. According to the government, together, these will connect India's financial centres, technology hubs, manufacturing clusters and emerging cities with fast and clean transportation.

Add Zee Business as a Preferred Source

"In order to promote environmentally sustainable passenger systems, we will develop seven high-speed rail corridors between cities as growth connectors, namely Mumbai to Pune, Pune to Hyderabad, Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Hyderabad to Chennai, and Chennai to Bengaluru. Delhi to Varanasi, Varanasi to Siliguri," the FM said during her speech.

Budget 2026: New dedicated freight corridors

To promote environmentally sustainable cargo movement, the Finance Minister announced that the government will also set up new dedicated freight corridors connecting Dangkuni in the eastern part of West Bengal to Surat in the west and operationalise 20 new national waterways over the next five years. The move is aimed at shifting a larger portion of freight traffic towards inland water transport, which is considered more energy-efficient and cost-effective than road and rail.

"Establish new dedicated freight corridors connecting West Bengal's Dangkuni in the east to Surat in the west. Operationalise 20 new national waterways over the next five years to promote environmentally sustainable cargo movement," FM said.

Budget 2026: Eco-tourism and nature-based travel

The Budget also highlighted eco-tourism and nature-based travel. The Finance Minister said, "India has the potential and opportunity to offer world-class trekking and hiking experience."

The government will develop sustainable mountain trails in Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir, as well as in Araku Valley in the Eastern Ghats and Pudigai Malai in the Western Ghats.

Additionally, dedicated wildlife tourism trails will be created. These include turtle trails along turtle nesting sites in Odisha, Karnataka, and Kerala, and bird-watching trails around Pulicat Lake.

With ANI Inputs

FAQs related to the article

Q1 When was Budget 2026 presented?

Budget 2026-27 was presented on Sunday, February 1, by Finance Minister of the country in the Parliament.

Q2 Who presented the Union Budget 2026?

Nirmala Sitharaman, the Union Finance Minister of India, presented the Budget 2026-27 for the upcoming financial year 2026 starting April 1, 2026.

Q3 What the government proposed for rail sector in Budget 2026?

The government has proposed to commission seven high-speed rail corridors, new dedicated freight corridors and operationalisation of 20 national waterways.

Q4 What is the purpose of the new high-speed rail corridors proposed in Budget 2026?

According to the government, together, these proposed route will connect India's financial centres, technology hubs, manufacturing clusters and emerging cities with fast and clean transportation.