New bullet train corridors promise faster travel; Pune in 3 hrs, Hyderabad in 6

Ahmedabad: For passengers in Ahmedabad, the Centre's announcement of new high-speed rail corridors promises a dramatic cut in long-distance travel time, turning journeys that currently take an entire day into a matter of hours.With the proposed extension of the Ahmedabad–Mumbai Phase I bullet train, commuters from the city could reach Pune in nearly three hours and Hyderabad in about six hours. Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said travel between Mumbai and Pune would be reduced to just 48 minutes, while the Pune–Hyderabad leg would take around 1 hour and 55 minutes, making seamless same-day intercity travel a realistic option for business travellers, students and tourists alike.Addressing the media via video conference, the minister said the under-construction Ahmedabad–Mumbai high-speed rail corridor would be extended to Pune and Hyderabad, with further links planned to Bengaluru and Chennai. For passengers from Ahmedabad, this would mean faster, predictable and more comfortable rail connectivity to key economic and IT hubs in western and southern India.The Union Budget 2026–27 has proposed around 4,000 km of bullet train routes across the country. Vaishnaw added that the govt's manifesto commitment was 7,000 km of such corridors, with more routes to be announced.Beyond bullet trains, passengers in Gujarat are also set to benefit from large-scale upgrades to the conventional rail network. Railway infrastructure projects worth Rs 1.29 lakh crore are underway in the state, covering new tracks, station redevelopment and safety enhancements. Under the Amrit Station Scheme, 87 stations in Gujarat have been identified for redevelopment, with works already completed at 19 stationsincluding Dakor, Hapa, Jam Jodhpur, Morbi, Okha, Palitana and Porbandar, among others.Divisional railway manager Ved Prakash said Gujarat has also achieved 100% railway electrification and seen the construction of 1,177 flyovers and underpasses, easing road-rail movement and improving safety. For everyday travellers, officials said these measures translate into shorter travel times, safer journeys and a more reliable rail experience.About the dedicated freight corridor (East-West corridor) connecting Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat, the minister said that the 2,052-km corridor would pass through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Gujarat. The corridor will boost industrial development and economic activity across the states it passes through. This East-West corridor will be further connected at Surat, which will be a junction with the western corridor connecting Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai.The minister said that Indian Railways achieved a historic milestone in Gujarat with unprecedented budgetary support and rapid infrastructure development. The average annual railway budget allocation for Gujarat rose sharply from ₹589 crore during 2009-14 to Rs 17,366 crore in the 2026-27 period, a nearly 29-fold increase.