India’s tourism boom gains speed with 82 Vande Bharat routes, 166 airports and 6.4 million km road network

Vande Bharat is emerging as a key driver of tourism-linked rail travel, with the expansion of its network reshaping access to major pilgrimage, heritage and leisure destinations across India. The network reached 82 operational routes by August 2026, up from just two in 2021, according to a September 2026 CBRE Research report. The rapid expansion has strengthened connectivity across several tourism corridors.

The impact is particularly visible in pilgrimage travel, with Vande Bharat services improving access to destinations such as Varanasi, Ayodhya, Deoghar, Puri, Tirupati, Shirdi and Khajuraho. The report also points to improved connectivity to Kashmir through the Katra-Srinagar corridor, while services between New Jalpaiguri and Kamakhya are helping enhance access to the Northeast.

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The growing role of rail is part of a wider infrastructure push that is changing how tourists move across India. The country has around 166 operational airports, including approximately 36 international airports, while its road network stretches beyond 6.4 million km, including nearly 146,000 km of national highways. India’s railway network, meanwhile, spans around 69,000 route km.

Airports expand access to emerging destinations

Air connectivity is also extending beyond traditional tourism gateways. Domestic passenger traffic stood at 167.4 million in 2025-26, while international passenger traffic reached 78.7 million, according to the report. The Modified UDAN scheme, with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore for FY2027-FY2036, is expected to expand air access to underserved regions and support tourism activity in tier-II and tier-III markets.

The government said in September that 687 UDAN regional connectivity routes connecting 95 airports had been operationalised, while the Modified UDAN scheme also includes plans for new airports and helipads.

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Expressways create multi-destination circuits

Road infrastructure is similarly changing tourism itineraries. Expressways such as the 1,350-km Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, 296-km Bundelkhand Expressway and 701-km Samruddhi Mahamarg are linking clusters of heritage, pilgrimage and wildlife destinations. The CBRE report notes that improved road connectivity is making multi-stop tourism circuits more practical.

The transformation is also visible in passenger demand. Indian Railways said nearly 3.98 crore passengers travelled on Vande Bharat trains in FY2025-26, up about 34% year-on-year from 2.97 crore in FY2024-25.