Varanasi – Howrah High Speed Rail – Information, Route Map, Fares, Tenders & Updates

Information

Varanasi – Howrah (Kolkata) High-Speed Rail (VHHSR Bullet Train) project is a 760 km proposed High Speed Rail line that will connect Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata through an undefined number of stations in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal at a project cost that is yet to be finalized.

This line does not feature in the the original list of six high speed rail corridors planned by the Government of India in 2019. Tendering activity for preparing its Detailed Project Report (DPR) began in December 2020. Construction work is expected to begin only after 2030.

Key Figures

Operational: 0 km | Under Construction: 0 km | Proposed: 760 km

System Specifications

Maximum Speed: 350 kmph
Operational Speed: 320 kmph
Average Speed: 250 kmph
Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1435mm
Signaling: DS-ATC
Train Capacity: 750 passengers
Traction: 25 KV AC overhead catenary (OHE)
Safety: Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System (UrEDAS) for automatic breaking in case of an earthquake

Varanasi – Kolkata HSR Route Information

Length: 760 km
Type: Elevated, Underground & At-Grade
Number of Stations: TBD
Station Names: TBD but expected to come up at Varanasi, Buxar, Arrah, Patna, Nawada, Dhanbad, Asansol, Durgapur, Burdaman and Howrah

Varanasi – Kolkata HSR Route Map

Route Description: The proposed Varanasi – Kolkata High Speed Rail Corridor is planned to run along major expressways, national highways, greenfield areas, and may pass through arterial roads of the intermediate city road network for high speed rail connectivity between different cities along the corridor.

Alignment and location of stations displayed below are purely indicative just to give an idea of how the line might look like.

An official PDF route map of the Varanasi – Kolkata HSR line will be added here when available.

Varanasi – Kolkata HSR Fares (Prices)

The fare structure is yet to be finalized but is expected to be 1.5 times the existing first class AC fare on the Indian Railways’ current service. The line’s official fare structure, prices and rules are expected to be finalized closer to the start of commercial operations.

Varanasi – Kolkata HSR Tenders

Latest NHSRCL Varanasi – Kolkata HSR High Speed Rail tender notices can be viewed on NHSRCL’s website. News on these notices, their bidders, awarded tenders and contracts are covered in further detail on the news & construction page.

Major Contractors

Contract	Contractor
Data Collection and Associated Survey Work for DPR	Highway Engineering Magnitude Consortium is lowest bidder among 4
Carrying Out Ridership Study (Traffic Study)	PK Engineers is lowest bidder among 4
Preparation of GADs (General Alignment Drawings)	Translink Consultants
Final Alignment Design including Aerial LiDAR Survey	Groever Infra
Survey, Identification of Overhead, Over Ground, Underground Utilities And Identification Of Power Sourcing Options for Substations	Gaveshna Geosciences Pvt. Ltd. is Lowest Bidder (5 bids were submitted)
Detailed Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report and Resettlement Action Plan (RAP)	TIla Consultants – Monarch Surveyors JV
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Report	Overseas Min-Tech Consultant is lowest bidder

Click on ‘News & Construction Updates’ below for project news, progress and updates.

Page last updated: October 19, 2024. Have a question or spot an error? Let me know here.