Hyderabad–Chennai High-Speed Rail Project Accelerates as Tamil Nadu Reviews Final Alignment

The long-awaited Hyderabad–Chennai high-speed rail project has entered a decisive phase, with the South Central Railway formally submitting the revised final alignment to the Tamil Nadu government for inclusion in the detailed project report. The 778-kilometre bullet train corridor, designed to transform connectivity between the two major southern metros, is now moving toward its next stage of clearances and approvals.

Officials confirmed that the alignment was reworked to include Tirupati instead of Gudur, following requests from Tamil Nadu. This change is expected to benefit interstate pilgrimage travel and stimulate economic activity along the corridor. Once the Tamil Nadu government grants approval, the detailed project report will be finalised within a month, according to I. Jayakumar, Member Secretary of CUMTA.

The state will host two stations—one at Chennai Central and another near Minjur along the Outer Ring Road. Railways has requested approximately 50 acres around each station for transit-oriented development, a model that integrates commercial, residential, and mobility infrastructure around major transport hubs. This is expected to play a significant role in shaping real estate growth in and around Chennai.

Tamil Nadu’s stretch spans nearly 61 kilometres and requires 223.44 hectares of non-forest land. The alignment also features an 11.6-kilometre tunnel, making the project one of the most technologically challenging rail infrastructures planned in the region. Railways has urged the state to expedite joint inspections, station location finalisation, and land acquisition processes to keep the project timeline on track.

Once completed, the bullet train is expected to slash travel time between Hyderabad and Chennai from the current 12 hours to just 2 hours and 20 minutes. This will significantly enhance business travel, regional integration, and industrial connectivity across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

The project marks a major milestone for India’s high-speed rail ambitions, combining improved mobility with long-term economic benefits for the southern region.