Kumaraswamy to take up the proposal for a Bengaluru–Pune–Mumbai high-speed rail corridor, with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Mr. Patil noted the need for efficient, world-class connectivity between Bengaluru, India’s technology hub, and Mumbai, the country’s financial capital. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, while presenting the Union Budget 2026–27 on Sunday (February 1, 2026), announced seven high-speed rail (HSR) corridors across the country, describing them as “growth connectors”. Among the corridors listed, the Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Chennai–Bengaluru routes are expected to directly link Bengaluru with two other State capitals. However, Mr. Patil said that a Bengaluru–Pune–Mumbai high-speed rail corridor should also have been announced, as it would bring wider economic benefits to Karnataka.

Source: The Hindu February 06, 2026 08:23 UTC