Budget 2026: FM bets on seven high-speed rail corridors to drive growth

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday, during her Budget 2026 speech, announced plans to develop seven high-speed rail corridors to serve as growth connectors between major cities, as part of the government’s push to promote environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems.

Presenting the Union Budget in Parliament, Sitharaman said the proposed high-speed corridors will link Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–Siliguri, strengthening inter-city connectivity and supporting economic activity.

The rail push forms part of a broader set of targeted interventions across six areas identified by the government to accelerate and sustain economic growth. “The reform express is running on its way and will maintain its momentum to help us fulfil our Kartavya,” Sitharaman said during her Budget speech.


Under the first of the Budget’s three kartavyas — accelerating and sustaining economic growth — the Finance Minister said the government has mapped six focus areas aimed at strengthening the economic foundation and supporting long-term expansion.

The first intervention involves scaling up manufacturing in seven strategic and frontier sectors, a move Sitharaman said would enhance India’s manufacturing capabilities and reinforce its position in critical areas of the economy.

The second focus area is the rejuvenation of legacy industrial sectors, with the Finance Minister stressing the need to revive traditional industries to preserve jobs, sustain growth and support regions dependent on these sectors.

The third intervention centres on the creation of champion micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). Sitharaman said MSMEs remain central to economic activity and employment generation, and supporting their growth is vital for broader economic stability.

A powerful push for infrastructure forms the fourth area of intervention, with Sitharaman describing infrastructure development as a key pillar for economic expansion that boosts both short-term activity and long-term productivity.

The fifth focus area aims at ensuring long-term security and stability, which the Finance Minister said is essential for sustaining growth and building confidence across the economy.

The sixth and final intervention involves the development of city economic regions, which Sitharaman said will play a crucial role in driving economic activity and supporting growth across urban centres.

Together, the six interventions underscore the government’s commitment to fulfilling its Kartavya and maintaining momentum on reforms, the Finance Minister said.