With the Union Budget unveiling plans for seven new high-speed rail corridors connecting major Indian cities, discussions have begun in eastern India on how such transformative infrastructure could reshape regions beyond the officially announced routes. Odisha, though not included in the first set of high-speed corridors, is quietly exploring possibilities to integrate into India’s future bullet train network.
Odisha’s existing railway network spans nearly 3,000 kilometres and is fully electrified. However, large parts of the state—particularly interior and southern districts—continue to face limited rail connectivity. Planners believe that the introduction of a high-speed rail corridor, either as a future east-coast alignment or as a spur from a planned route, could significantly alter the state’s economic and mobility landscape.
One of the most striking potential benefits would be a dramatic reduction in travel time. Journeys between Bhubaneswar and New Delhi, which currently take nearly 30 hours on conventional trains, could be reduced to around 8 to 9 hours on a high-speed rail service. Short-distance travel could also be transformed, with Bhubaneswar–Cuttack trips taking as little as 15 minutes and Bhubaneswar–Puri journeys completed in about 20 minutes.