On February 1, 2026, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced seven new High-Speed Rail (HSR) corridors during the Union Budget 2026-27. She called these corridors "growth connectors" aiming to promote environmentally sustainable travel. Key corridors include Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Chennai–Bengaluru, directly linking Bengaluru with two state capitals. Others are Mumbai–Pune, Pune–Hyderabad, Hyderabad–Chennai, Delhi–Varanasi, and Varanasi–Siliguri. The Budget also increased support for the Bengaluru Suburban Rail Project to ₹500 crore, up from ₹350 crore last year. Rail activists welcomed the move but raised concerns over clarity and timelines. Krishna Prasad, a Bengaluru railway activist, said, "Connecting cities like Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Chennai through high-speed rail is a positive step and very much needed." He added, "The Budget does not clarify whether these corridors will be developed on existing railway lines or via new infrastructure, making it hard to know when projects will start." Prasad also noted the lack of detailed announcements for other railway projects and expressed disappointment over reduced transparency since the Railway Budget merged with the general Budget. He highlighted the need for sustained funding for important projects like Hubballi–Raichur and Belagavi–Dharwad lines to improve Karnataka’s rail network. Rajkumar Dugar, convenor of Citizens for Citizens, called the Budget "highly technical" but lacking focus on daily commuters. Giving Bengaluru as an example, he said, "High-speed rail sounds impressive, but it will take at least a decade to materialise. My concern is about today and tomorrow." Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil welcomed the corridors but felt the benefits were limited. He suggested a Bengaluru–Pune high-speed rail corridor would better serve the state and urged MPs from Karnataka and Maharashtra to seek it as a priority, regardless of party lines.