New Delhi, Jan 02: Indian Railways is set to expand at a rapid pace. Backed by the substantial allocation of Rs. 2,78,000 crore in the Union Budget this year, Railways is focusing its spending on high-speed connectivity, freight and safety.

A record capital expenditure of ₹2,93,030 crore has been planned for Indian Railways in Union Budget 2026–27. This is the highest-ever capex as well as allocation for Indian Railways.

The allocation underscores the Government’s continued focus on strengthening railway infrastructure, expanding capacity and enhancing passenger safety. It reflects the emphasis on leveraging rail infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth and logistics efficiency. The sustained investment push aims to improve freight movement, reduce logistics costs, decongest high-density corridors and enhance passenger experience through modern trains and redeveloped stations.

As part of its long-term vision, the Government has announced the development of seven high-speed rail corridors between cities as ‘growth connectors’ to promote environmentally sustainable passenger transport systems. These corridors include Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Bengaluru, Hyderabad–Chennai, Chennai–Bengaluru, Delhi–Varanasi and Varanasi–Siliguri. The proposed corridors are expected to significantly reduce inter-city travel time and facilitate seamless, multimodal movement of passengers.

With the announcement of the new corridors, the rail-based transportation ecosystem is expected to undergo a paradigm shift. In South India, the Chennai–Bengaluru–Hyderabad high-speed network will form a South High-Speed Triangle (or Diamond), connecting major economic and IT hubs. Union Minister for Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, addressing the press conference at Rail Bhawan today, said that travel times will be significantly reduced.

Vaishnaw said that Chennai–Bengaluru will take about 1 hour 13 minutes, Bengaluru–Hyderabad around 2 hours, and Chennai–Hyderabad around 2 hours 55 minutes. This network is expected to serve as a powerful growth multiplier for Karnataka, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry, significantly boosting regional development.

In western and central India, the upcoming Mumbai–Pune high-speed corridor will reduce travel time to around 48 minutes, effectively integrating the two major urban centres. Further connectivity from Pune to Hyderabad in around 1 hour 55 minutes, and onward links to southern hubs, will create a continuous high-speed spine across regions, benefiting passengers and regional economies alike.

In northern and eastern India, the Delhi–Varanasi high-speed corridor will enable travel in around 3 hours 50 minutes. Further, the high-speed rail corridor from Varanasi via Patna to Siliguri in West Bengal will enable travel between Varanasi and Siliguri in about 2 hours and 55 minutes. This connectivity is expected to create a new economic corridor across the belt spanning Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, significantly boosting regional development and economic activity.

Vaishnaw said that, together, the seven high-speed corridors span nearly 4,000 kilometres and are expected to attract investments of approximately ₹16 lakh crore, positioning railways as a central pillar of future mobility.

In a major boost to freight movement and logistics efficiency, the Union Budget also proposes a new Dedicated Freight Corridor connecting Dankuni in West Bengal with Surat in Gujarat, passing through Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. This 2,052-km corridor will integrate with the existing Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, enabling seamless movement of goods to ports along the west coast. The Union Minister noted that the existing Eastern and Western DFCs are already operating at near-saturation levels, handling around 400 freight trains daily, necessitating additional corridors to meet future demand.

This East–West corridor will strengthen seamless trade flows across regions, decongest existing rail networks and enhance the efficiency of goods transportation, thereby supporting industrial growth and supply chains.

The Union Minister has highlighted that safety remains the top priority, with nearly ₹1.20 lakh crore earmarked exclusively for safety-related works. The Union Minister noted that sustained investments over the years have already yielded results, with railway accidents reduced by nearly 95 per cent. He stated that the Government is now intensifying efforts to further strengthen safety outcomes. The focus areas include enhanced track, locomotive, wagon and coach maintenance, rapid deployment of the Kavach automatic train protection system, installation of CCTV cameras, upgradation of overhead electrical (OHE) systems, station redevelopment, and improved customer care and passenger facilities.

The Union Minister said that propulsion systems are the most critical component of railway technology, and that propulsion systems designed and manufactured in India are now being exported to the top countries including USA, Switzerland, Germany, France and Spain.

The Union Minister also highlighted record achievements in infrastructure creation, including construction of 35,000 km of new tracks, 47,000 km of electrification, and electrification coverage exceeding 99.5 per cent of the broad-gauge network. He said manufacturing of Vande Bharat sleeper and chair car trains, Amrit Bharat and Namo Bharat trains, along with record induction of wagons, is progressing at an unprecedented pace.

Emphasising sustainability, Shri Vaishnaw stated that rail transport is nearly 95 per cent less polluting than road transport, aligning closely with the Government’s environmental and climate commitments and reflecting the Prime Minister’s vision of railways as a green mode of mass transport.

The record allocation reinforces the role of Indian Railways as a backbone of national development, economic growth and inclusive connectivity. With the initiatives outlined in Union Budget 2026–27, Indian Railways is poised to play a decisive role in nation-building by delivering faster connectivity, efficient logistics and resilient infrastructure in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.

Mumbai, Feb 02: The rupee gained 37 paise to 91.56 against the US dollar in early trade on Monday, a day after the Union Budget 2026-27 was presented, largely as crude oil prices retreated from their elevated levels.

Forex traders said for the rupee, the budget offered reassurance, not relief. Moreover, the government’s high borrowing plan is likely to weigh on investor sentiments.

The government is likely to borrow Rs 17.2 lakh crore in the next financial year to fund its fiscal deficit projected at 4.3 per cent of the GDP.

At the interbank foreign exchange market, the rupee opened at 91.95 against the US dollar, then gained some ground to 91.56, registering a gain of 37 paise over its previous close.

On Friday, the rupee hit a record low of 92.02 before ending 6 paise higher at 91.93 against the US dollar.

In the initial trade, it also touched 91.95 against the American currency.

“Union Budget 2026 did not arrive with fireworks. Instead, it stayed firmly on the path of continuity — focusing on growth, stability, and fiscal discipline. Short-term pressure may persist, but the broader message of fiscal credibility and growth continuity keeps medium-term prospects constructive,” CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari said.

Pabari further said “with USD/INR hovering just below 92.00, this level now stands as the key near-term pivot. A sustained break above it could open the path toward 92.20–92.50.

Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback’s strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.10 per cent higher at 97.08.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 4.24 per cent lower at USD 66.38 per barrel in futures trade, as US and Iran were talking about avoiding US strikes on the Iranian soil.

The oil prices had touched USD 72 per barrel after traders expected a US strike on Iran during the weekend.

On the domestic equity market front, Sensex climbed 302 points to 81,024.94, while Nifty was trading up 59.25 points to 24,884.70.

On Sunday, equity markets reacted negatively to the Union Budget as higher securities transaction tax on derivatives and changes to buyback taxation increased costs and weighed on sentiment.

Foreign Institutional Investors offloaded equities worth Rs 588.34 crore on Sunday, according to exchange data.