Study successful high-speed rail networks: Parliamentary panel

The parliamentary standing committee on railways has proposed a comprehensive study of successful high-speed rail networks in countries where such systems function efficiently. This recommendation was made in their 10th report, delivered to the Lok Sabha on Monday. The committee also urged for accelerated indigenisation of high-speed rail components and the establishment of a training institute to build capacity through international guidance.

The committee acknowledged the Railways' efforts towards indigenisation under the Make in India scheme, but emphasized the need for a faster pace and enhanced capacity building. They urged the Ministry to provide updates on their study plans for future High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridors, as announced in the 2026-27 Union Budget. The committee applauded the announcement of seven new high-speed rail corridors, with a focus on the importance of completing land acquisition and other statutory clearances before project approvals to ensure timely implementation and financial stability.

The seven corridors include Mumbai-Pune, Pune-Hyderabad, Hyderabad-Bengaluru, Hyderabad-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Delhi-Varanasi, and Varanasi-Siliguri. Concerning the 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail project, the committee noted that its cost has risen from the initial ₹97,636 crore approved in 2015, primarily due to taxes, cess, rolling stock, signalling, inflation, and increased land acquisition and rehabilitation expenses.

The revised estimate remains under sanction. The committee praised the commencement of operations using the B28, an Indian-made bullet trainset capable of 280 kmph, on the 97-km Surat-Vapi stretch, scheduled to commence in August 2027. They recommended a robust execution framework for improved inter-agency coordination, early detection of challenges, and quicker completion of utility-shifting projects.