By March 2027, the Ministry of Railways has set a target to complete the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for three bullet train corridors including the Hyderabad-Chennai, Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Patna-Siliguri routes.
Setting Deadlines For Three Bullet Train Corridors
It seems that the Ministry of Railways has set a deadline of March 2027 to complete the detailed project reports (DPRs) for three proposed high-speed rail corridors which were earlier announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2026-27.
Here mentioned Patna-Siliguri bullet train corridor is going to be a part of the Varanasi-Siliguri high-speed rail (HSR) corridor.
The DPRs for these corridors are expected to be completed between September 2026 and March 2027 as per the media reports.
The same is confirmed by the Ministry of Railways, saying that the DPRs for the Hyderabad-Chennai, Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Patna-Siliguri high-speed rail corridors are likely to be completed between September 2026 and March 2027 in a statement.
As we know that the Patna–Siliguri section forms part of the larger Varanasi–Siliguri High-Speed Rail Corridor. This was among the major rail infrastructure projects announced in the Union Budget 2026–27 by Nirmala Sitharaman.
Moving ahead, the ministry added, “Works can be taken up on approval and sanction of the project, as per project implementation schedule provided in respective DPRs.”
India’s First Indigenous High-speed Trainset Launch
Parallel to this, the work is underway on developing India’s first indigenous high-speed trainset, known as the B28 Bullet Train, which is being designed and manufactured by BEML at its rail coach complex in Bengaluru.
The project holds a significance as it is expected to have a design speed of 280 kmph and an operational speed of 250 kmph, with the prototype targeted for completion by March 2027.
The train set will include fully air-conditioned chair car coaches, reclining and rotatable seats, accessibility features for passengers with restricted mobility, and onboard infotainment systems according to the authorities.
This project which was commissioned in October 2024 by the Integral Coach Factory, highlights the India’s growing capability to build advanced train systems domestically.
It would go through rigorous testing and trials will take place before it is opened for passenger services said the officials.
