Varanasi-Howrah High Speed Rail: Project Information, Routes, Fares and other Details

General Information

Project Summary

• Project Name: Varanasi-Howrah High Speed Rail (Bullet Train) Project
• Owner: Indian Railways
• Operator: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited
• Project Type: High Speed Rail
• Project Cost: NA
• Route Length: 760 km
• Train Speed: 320 kmph
• Journey Fare: Rs 4.5 per km
• Journey Hours: 2 hours 37 minutes
• Status: Approved and under DPR stage

Operational Routes

NA

Fares 

Not yet decided as project in now under construction.

Contact details

National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL)
2nd FLOOR, ASIA BHAWAN, ROAD NO-205
SEC-09, DWARKA, New Delhi -110077  

Tel: 011-28070000/01/02/03/04

Email: NA

Website: https://nhsrcl.in

Route Map

NA

Project Information

• Route Length: 760 km (At grade, elevated and underground)
• Total Stations: 10
• Station Names: Varanasi, Buxar, Arrah, Patna, Nawada, Dhanbad, Asansol, Durgapur, Burdaman and Howrah.

Project Cost & Funding:

NA

 Deadline: 2028

Technical Information

• Design Speed: 350 kmph
• Average Speed: 250 kmph
• Track Gauge: Standard Gauge – 1,435 mm
• Electrification: 25 kv AC 50 Overhead catenary
• Signalling System: ETCS Level-2 of ERTMS
• Rolling stock: NA

Major Contractors 

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

Progress So Far

• December 2019: Ministry of Railways had given the task to National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for preparing the detailed project report (DPR).
• February 2020: NHSRCL has started floating tenders for various activities including design and survey of the project.