Railway Budget 2026: Uttar Pradesh Receives Major Infrastructure Boost
The Ministry of Railways has allocated a substantial budgetary fund of Rs 20,012 crore for the development of rail infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh for the financial year 2026-27. This significant allocation represents an increase from the Rs 19,858 crore provided to the state in the previous fiscal year 2025-26, demonstrating the government's continued focus on enhancing connectivity in India's most populous state.
Administrative Framework and Ongoing Projects
The railway projects in Uttar Pradesh operate under the administrative control of three major railway zones:
- Northern Railway
- North Central Railway
- North Eastern Railway
Currently, several infrastructure projects worth Rs 92,056 crore are underway across the state. This massive investment encompasses multiple critical areas including:
- Track creation and expansion
- Station redevelopment initiatives
- Comprehensive safety enhancements
Historic Bullet Train Announcements
In a landmark development, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that two new bullet train projects have been sanctioned in the Railway Budget 2026. Addressing a press conference on the Union Budget allocation for the Ministry of Railways, Vaishnaw stated, "Once again, Uttar Pradesh has received a record budget allocation. The Railways has been allocated Rs 20,012 crore."
The minister further revealed that the two sanctioned high-speed rail corridors are:
- Delhi-Varanasi bullet train corridor
- Varanasi-Siliguri bullet train corridor
"Two new bullet train projects were sanctioned in the budget presented yesterday (February 1). The first will connect Delhi and Varanasi, while the second will link Varanasi with Siliguri," Vaishnaw elaborated during the announcement.
Transforming Travel and Creating Economic Corridors
The Railway Minister provided specific details about the transformative impact these bullet train projects will have on travel times across northern and eastern India. According to the announcement:
- The Delhi to Varanasi journey will be reduced to approximately 3 hours and 50 minutes
- The Varanasi to Siliguri journey via Patna will take around 2 hours and 55 minutes
Vaishnaw emphasized that this infrastructure development would create a new economic corridor stretching from Delhi through Uttar Pradesh and Bihar to West Bengal. "This belt will emerge as a new economic corridor. Healthcare, education and all types of economic activities will multiply, bringing significant benefits to the region," the minister stated, highlighting the broader socioeconomic implications of these connectivity improvements.
The Railway Budget 2026 allocation for Uttar Pradesh represents a strategic investment in both immediate infrastructure upgrades and long-term transportation transformation through high-speed rail networks. These developments are expected to significantly enhance regional connectivity, reduce travel times, and stimulate economic growth across multiple states in northern and eastern India.
