Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Chennai in 2 Hours via High-Speed Rail

The Indian government has proposed two high-speed rail corridors linking Hyderabad with Bengaluru and Chennai, significantly reducing travel times between these major cities. If executed as planned, these corridors will enable passengers to reach Bengaluru in approximately two hours and Chennai in two hours and 20 minutes, as per an official report.

At present, direct flights between Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport take around one hour and 15 minutes. Flights to Chennai International Airport typically last one hour and 20 minutes. However, when considering airport check-ins, security procedures, and travel to and from the airport, total travel time extends to two to three hours. The proposed high-speed rail corridors aim to match or even improve on this total journey duration while offering a seamless travel experience without the usual airport formalities.

The planned Hyderabad-Chennai high-speed rail corridor will cover 705 kilometers, while the Hyderabad-Bengaluru route is expected to span 626 kilometers. The government-owned consultancy firm RITES Limited has issued tenders to conduct a final location survey. This survey will include preparing a detailed project report (DPR), designing the alignment, estimating overall costs, and assessing projected passenger traffic. The estimated cost for this survey and assessment stands at Rs 33 crore.

“The survey and assessment phase requires an estimated Rs 33 crore. Unlike traditional railway tracks, these corridors will be exclusively developed for high-speed rail services. The design concept follows the approach used for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed corridor, which has been dedicated solely to bullet train operations,” a senior official from South Central Railway (SCR) stated.

The proposed corridors will support a design speed of up to 350 kmph, with operational speeds reaching 320 kmph. These trains will run on elevated tracks, designed with provisions for additional tracks in the future along existing broad-gauge railway routes. This elevated alignment will help streamline operations and reduce infrastructure conflicts with conventional railway networks.

“The corridors will be designed for a maximum speed of 350 kmph, though the trains will operate at 320 kmph. The elevated track infrastructure will also allow for future multi-tracking expansions along the current broad-gauge railway network,” stated an official tender document. The study will comprehensively cover geological surveys, remote sensing evaluations, soil and rock sample lab tests, traffic analysis, and engineering studies involving tunnels, bridges, and station infrastructure.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, which began its feasibility study in 2015 and commenced construction in 2021, is projected to be completed by 2028 at an estimated cost of Rs 1.65 lakh crore. Railway officials anticipate a similar long-term timeline for the Hyderabad corridors, estimating a completion period of at least 15 years.

As part of the preliminary survey, the selected firm will conduct geological mapping and other studies along both proposed routes. The development of these corridors aligns with the broader national strategy to modernize India’s railway infrastructure, integrating high-speed connectivity across key metropolitan regions.Hyderabad to Bengaluru, Chennai in 2 Hours via High-Speed Rail