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

Information

Delhi – Varanasi High-Speed Rail (DVHSR Bullet Train) project is an 865 km proposed High Speed Rail line that will connect Delhi with Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh through 12 stations at an estimated cost of Rs. 1.21 lakh crore.

The project includes a 135 km Lucknow Ayodhya Spur line. Its feasibility report was prepared by INECO, TYPSA and ICT in 2017. Per the project’s feasibility report, riders will be able to travel between Delhi and Lucknow in 1 hour and 38 minutes, and between Delhi – Varanasi in 2 hours and 37 minutes.

In February 2020, the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) invited bids for preparing the line’s final alignment design, using LiDAR surveys, and for preparing Stage-1 preliminary route development artefacts, with an aim to prepare its detailed project report (DPR) as tasked by the Government of India in 2019. Contracts for these were awarded in August-end – see contract list at the bottom.

In March 2020, NHSRCL invited bids for environment (EIA) & social impact surveys (SIA), assessments, and utility identification along its proposed route.

This line is part of the Diamond Quadrilateral project and will be extended in the future to Patna, Bihar and Kolkata, West Bengal.

Key Figures

Operational: 0 km | Under Construction: 0 km | Proposed: 865 km

System Specifications

Maximum Speed: 350 kmph
Operational Speed: 320 kmph
Average Speed: 250 kmph
Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1435mm
Signalling: 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

Delhi – Varanasi HSR Route Information

Length: 865 km
Type: Elevated, Underground & At-Grade
Number of Stations: 12
Station Names: Sarai Kale Khan in Delhi, Noida, Jewar Airport, Mathura, Agra, New Etawah, South Kannauj, Lucknow, Raibareli, Prayagraj (Allahabad), New Bhadoi, and Varanasi.

Delhi – Varanasi HSR Route Map

Route Description: The proposed Delhi Varanasi 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 Delhi – Varanasi HSR line will be added here when available.

Delhi – Varanasi 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.

Per the feasibility report, the line’s base fare is pegged at Rs. 4.5 per kilometer, so a ride from Delhi to Varanasi could cost approximately Rs. 3240 and approximately Rs. 1980 from Delhi to Lucknow.

Delhi – Varanasi HSR Tenders

Latest NHSRCL Delhi – Varanasi 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 of Delhi-Varanasi HSR Corridor	Ceinsys Tech Ltd.
Final Alignment design including Aerial LiDAR survey and other related works	Aarvee Associates Architects Engineers and Consultants – GSL Associates JV
Preparation of General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) of Crossing Bridges over Rivers, Canals, Railways and Roads (Expressway, NH and SH and Major District Roads) and GADs of proposed Stations and Maintenance Depots	Translink Infrastructure Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Environmental Impact Assessment Study / Field Work and Preparation of Environment Impact Assessment Report & Environment Management Plan	Enviro Infra Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

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.