NHSRCL seeks design bids for Bengaluru-Chennai and Delhi-Varanasi bullet train corridors

4 min readJun 29, 2026 04:12 PM IST

NHSRCL has floated design bids for the Bengaluru-Chennai and Delhi-Varanasi bullet train corridors, advancing India's high-speed rail expansion. (Image generated using AI)

Bullet train projects in India: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has invited bids for the development of civil structure designs for the proposed Bengaluru-Chennai and Delhi-Varanasi bullet train corridors. The two corridors were announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 as part of the government’s next phase of high-speed rail expansion, alongside five other proposed routes: Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai and Varanasi-Siliguri.

DPR for bullet train corridors in India

In a statement, NHSRCL said that Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for four of the seven high-speed rail corridors announced earlier have already been sanctioned, while surveys are currently underway for the remaining three corridors. The corporation added that alignment validation and pre-tender Geotechnical Investigation (GTI) works are also in progress.

According to NHSRCL, the seven proposed high-speed rail corridors will together span around 4,000 route km (RKM). “To take up such a large volume of work in fast pace, it is envisaged to adopt the best Design & Construction practices as adopted in MAHSR (Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail) corridor with further advancement. Keeping in view of this, NHSRCL decided to take up the work of standardisation of designs of various structures,” the NHSRCL said.

Bengaluru-Chennai bullet train corridor

The proposed Bengaluru-Chennai bullet train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 1 hour and 13 minutes. According to NHSRCL’s bid document, the corridor will feature three underground stations: Chennai, Whitefield and Baiyappanahalli.

Among these, Chennai and Baiyappanahalli are planned as terminal stations, each with two platforms and six railway lines to accommodate high-speed train operations.

Two island and two side platforms of 415m length

Number of lines – 6

Cross-over length for 120 kmph speed

Terminal Station

On the other hand, the Whitefield bullet train station is planned with two side platforms and one island platform, along with two railway lines, according to the bid document.

Two side/ One island platform of 415m length

Number of lines – 2

Cross-over length for 120kmph speed

All trains stopping

According to the bid document, the selected consultancy will also be responsible for designing three major tunnels along the Bengaluru-Chennai high-speed rail corridor. These include: the 3.87-km Chennai Terminal approach tunnel, the 14.79-km mountain tunnel through the Kaundinya Wildlife Sanctuary and the 15.92-km Bengaluru Terminal approach tunnel.

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Delhi-Varanasi bullet train corridor

The proposed Delhi-Varanasi bullet train is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to just 3 hours and 50 minutes. According to NHSRCL’s bid document, the corridor will feature one underground station at Jewar. The proposed station will feature two island platforms and four railway lines.

Two island platforms of 415m length

Number of lines – 4

Cross-over length for 120kmph speed

All trains stopping

The selected consultant will be responsible for preparing specifications, standards, and structural designs for underground stations, shafts, cut-and-cover sections, tunnels, and their ancillary structures along the high-speed rail corridors.

The scope of work also includes planning and developing specifications, standards, and structural designs for earth structures required for the high-speed rail network.

“The Design shall be safe, reliable, comfortable and cost-effective for operation of double track High-Speed Rail (HSR) at 320Kmph (Design speed = 350 Kmph) with due consideration to the site conditions including environmental, ground, materials etc,” it said.

Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors.

Professional Journey

Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com.

Education & Expertise

Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities:

Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University

Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication

Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta

Areas of Coverage

Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More

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