PATNA, Feb. 3 -- The Centre has sanctioned a high-speed bullet train corridor between Varanasi and Siliguri via Patna, a project that would improve connectivity and spur economic growth across eastern India, said railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The Varanasi-Siliguri journey through the high-speed rail corridor via Patna can be completed in about 2 hours and 55 minute. Additionally, the journey through the Delhi-Varanasi high speed corridor will be completed in about 3 hours and 50 minutes. This connectivity will develop a new economic corridor connecting West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, which will give a significant boost to regional development and economic activities. Vaishnaw, on Monday held a video press conference with the GMs, DRMs and media persons, terming the corridor a "game-changer" for Bihar and said it would strengthen regional development by sharply reducing travel time and improving mobility. "The amount allocated for railways for Bihar from 2009 to 2014 was on an average of Rs.1,132 crore, which has been increased to Rs.10,379 crore during the tenure of PM Modi, which is nine times more than the previous government," said Vaishnaw. The minister said redevelopment work of 98 Amrit Bharat stations worth Rs.3,287 crore was going on in Bihar. Of these, the redevelopment work of two stations - Thave and Peerpainti had been completed, he added. Fourteen pairs of Vande Bharat and twenty one pairs of Amrit Bharat trains were being operated in Bihar and Namo Bharat Express was also being operated between Patna and Jayanagar. Vaishnav claimed about 2,000 kms of new lines had been constructed in Bihar since 2014, which was almost equal to the total rail network of Malaysia. In Bihar, 3,330 kms of railway tracks had been electrified since 2014 ....