February 22, 2026The Hyderabad–Chennai High Speed Rail Corridor is a planned high-speed rail line connecting the capital of Telangana, Hyderabad with the capital Tamil Nadu, Chennai via the capital of Andhra Pradesh, Amaravati.When completed, it will be one of key links in India's high-speed rail line network along the east coast. Set to be the third high-speed rail line project of India involving Hyderabad,it will reduce the travel time between the cities of Hyderabad and Chennai from existing 12 hours to around 2 hours 20 minutes.
The project, part of a "South High-Speed Diamond" network, is currently in the Detailed Project Report (DPR) phase following approved alignments in late 2025.
Key Details on the Project:
Project Status: Final alignment submitted to the Tamil Nadu government for approval in Nov 2025, with DPR finalization expected shortly after.
Travel Time: Estimated to drop from ~12 hours to ~2 hours 20 mins to 2 hours 55 mins.
Speed: Trains will operate at speeds up to 320 km/h, similar to the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train.
Route & Stations: The proposed 778-km route connects Hyderabad, Vijayawada, Amaravati, and Chennai. Key stations planned include Chennai Central and a new station near Minjur.
Timeline: Construction is expected to take 10–15 years, with work potentially beginning after 2026/2027.
Infrastructure: The project involves an elevated, greenfield corridor (separate from existing tracks) and includes an 11.6-km tunnel in the Tamil Nadu section.
This development is part of a larger southern high-speed rail vision that also includes a parallel Hyderabad–Bengaluru link, together forming a “Golden Triangle” of economic hubs covering Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka. With an estimated cost likely exceeding ₹1.5 lakh crore and a construction timeline of 10–15 years, the project promises to transform regional connectivity, boost trade, tourism, and job creation, while aligning with India’s Viksit Bharat 2047 goals for world-class infrastructure. The next few months will be crucial as state governments finalize alignments and the Centre pushes for early financial approvals.
