Bhubaneswar, April 11 -- The Vande Bharat Express is witnessing a steady rise in passenger demand across India, with nearly 3.98 crore passengers travelling in FY 2025-26, registering a robust 34 percent increase compared to the previous year. A significant share of this growth is being driven by a few of the network's busiest and most strategically important routes, which continue to record consistently high occupancy and passenger preference.

Leading the list is the New Delhi-Varanasi route, which remains the busiest corridor in the Vande Bharat network, having served over 73 lakh passengers since its launch. This route holds immense importance due to its dual role as a major religious corridor and a high-density travel route connectin...