• Source:JND
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Chennai-Hyderabad Bullet Train: India’s high-speed rail expansion in the southern region has gained further momentum, with the proposed Chennai-Hyderabad bullet train corridor moving to the next stage of planning. The South Central Railway (SCR) has finalised a revised alignment for the 778-km high-speed route and submitted the details to the Tamil Nadu government for approval. This updated plan was prepared after Tamil Nadu requested that the route be realigned to include a station at Tirupati instead of the earlier alignment through Gudur.

DPR To Be Finalised After Tamil Nadu’s Clearance

Officials said the Detailed Project Report (DPR) will be completed within a month after the State clears the proposal. The revised alignment has also been shared with the transport department, along with a request to approve land acquisition and incorporate the corridor into Tamil Nadu’s long-term infrastructure master plan.

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According to preliminary assessments by consultancy firm RITES, the Tamil Nadu stretch of the project will require around 223.44 hectares of land. Importantly, none of the identified areas fall within forest zones, which is expected to simplify environmental approvals. Railway officials added that the construction plan involves crossing 65 roads and 21 high-voltage power lines, requiring coordination with multiple state departments.

Two Bullet Train Stations Planned In Chennai Region

Chennai will host two major bullet train stations under the project, one near Chennai Central and another at Minjur along the Chennai Ring Road. Each station is expected to need at least 50 acres of land, with Railways recommending transit-oriented development around both hubs to create new commercial and mobility centres.

11.6-km Tunnel Proposed in Tamil Nadu Stretch

The Tamil Nadu section will also include an 11.6-km tunnel, which will be subject to detailed geotechnical studies before construction begins. The proposed route passes near several northern settlements, including Pondavakkam, Thatchoor, Vichoor, Mathur and Tondiarpet, where careful planning will be required to minimise disruptions.

Chennai- Hyderabad Travel Time To Drop From 12 Hours To 2 Hours 20 Minutes

Once operational, the Chennai–Hyderabad bullet train is expected to reduce travel time between the two major cities from nearly 12 hours to about 2 hours and 20 minutes. Railway officials said field inspections will be carried out jointly with state teams to ensure that the Final Location Survey continues without delay.

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The project is one of two major high-speed corridors planned in the southern region, the other being the Hyderabad–Bengaluru route. These initiatives form part of the broader national plan to extend India’s bullet train network beyond the Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor and link key economic centres across the southern states.

The push strengthened after Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu announced in September that survey work for the corridor was already under way and that the line would connect Hyderabad, Chennai, Amravati and Bengaluru.

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