Varanasi-Patna-Howrah High-Speed Rail Project Gains Momentum with Review Meet in Patna

Chirag Gupta

Patna: National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) , New Delhi, conducted a presentation on the Varanasi-Patna-Howrah High Speed Rail (VPHHSR) Corridor Project in Patna. The program, held in the auditorium at the Collectorate, was led by the Joint General Manager of the corporation, who provided detailed insights into the project’s background, features, alignment, survey process, and the assessments of social and environmental impacts.

The district-level public consultation aimed at gathering environmental and social suggestions for the project. Various officials, including the Patna District Magistrate, Deputy Development Commissioner, Additional District Magistrates, district-level officers, and employees, were in attendance. The presentation underscored that the Ministry of Railways has assigned the preparation of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for seven High Speed Rail corridors to the NHSRCL, with the VPHHSR corridor being one of the top priorities.

The VPHHSR corridor will cover approximately 799.293 kilometers, connecting Varanasi to Howrah and passing through 18 districts across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It will feature 13 proposed stations and an operating speed of 320 km per hour. In Patna district, the project will span five tehsils: Danapur, Phulwarisharif, Sampatchak, Masaurhi, and Bikram.

District Magistrate Dr Chandrashekar Singh emphasized the importance of the VPHHSR corridor for public interest and assured full cooperation to the implementing agency. Relevant officers, including sub-divisional officers, the Additional Collector, and the District Land Acquisition Officer, have been directed to facilitate the project’s implementation.