Jammu: The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has invited bids for preparing the final alignment design of the proposed Amritsar–Jammu High-Speed Rail Corridor (AJHSRC) — a major step toward expanding India’s bullet train network beyond the western region.
According to a report quoting the tender document, NHSRCL has called for e-tenders from eligible applicants to finalize the design alignment of the 240-kilometre-long corridor. The estimated cost of the contract is ₹5.47 crore.
Once completed, the high-speed rail link is expected to significantly improve connectivity between Amritsar and Jammu, providing faster travel, promoting tourism, and boosting the regional economy with better access to the Kashmir Valley.
The Amritsar–Jammu corridor is among several routes identified under the National Rail Plan for potential development of India’s high-speed rail network. Other key corridors listed include Delhi–Varanasi, Delhi–Ahmedabad, Mumbai–Nagpur, Mumbai–Hyderabad, Chennai–Mysore, Delhi–Amritsar, and Varanasi–Howrah.
Earlier this year, RITES Limited, a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, began the feasibility study for the Hyderabad–Chennai High-Speed Rail Corridor, which is set to become South India’s first bullet train project. The study involves traffic analysis, demand forecasting, alignment surveys, and topographical assessments, and will later include the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Currently, NHSRCL is spearheading the construction of India’s first bullet train project — the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR). Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently announced that the first bullet train will begin operations in August 2027, with the initial run planned between Surat and Bilimora, part of the MAHSR stretch. The full project is expected to be completed by December 2029.
The Amritsar–Jammu High-Speed Rail Corridor marks another milestone in India’s push toward a modern, high-speed transport network aimed at transforming intercity travel and regional development.
