Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announces ₹5,454 crore allocation for Telangana, unveiling bullet train corridors connecting Hyderabad with Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune.
Hyderabad to Become Key Bullet Train Hub as Telangana Gets ₹5,454 Crore in Union Budget 2026–27
Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday, February 2, announced a major boost for Telangana’s railway infrastructure in the Union Budget 2026–27. The state has been allocated ₹5,454 crore, with Hyderabad set to become a central hub in India’s upcoming high-speed rail network.
Vaishnaw unveiled bullet train corridors connecting Hyderabad with Chennai, Bengaluru, and Pune. These projects are expected to make Hyderabad one of the country’s most important bullet train hubs, linking southern and western regions efficiently.
Highlighting the growth, the minister said the total value of ongoing railway projects in Telangana now stands at ₹47,984 crore—nearly six times higher than allocations during the previous Congress-led UPA government. He described the Budget as “record-breaking” for states included in the high-speed rail network.
Focusing on the Hyderabad–Bengaluru–Chennai corridor, Vaishnaw said it would be developed as a “diamond” high-speed rail network, with Hyderabad and Bengaluru serving as critical nodes connecting major southern metros. He added that faster connectivity would transform inter-city travel and boost economic integration across South India.
Once operational, the bullet trains are expected to sharply reduce travel times: Hyderabad to Bengaluru in about two hours, Chennai in under three hours, Pune in around one hour 55 minutes, and Mumbai in under three hours. This would enable same-day business travel and expand economic opportunities across states.
All high-speed rail corridors will be constructed on elevated tracks to minimize land acquisition and avoid disruption to villages, towns, and local geography. Detailed Project Reports, alignments, and designs are in the final stages, with construction expected to commence soon.
Vaishnaw also noted that India’s first bullet train project between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has equipped Indian engineers, designers, and construction teams with advanced technical expertise. Building on this experience, the government is now moving into the second phase of high-speed rail expansion under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
The announcements follow Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s Budget speech, which proposed seven high-speed rail corridors across the country, calling them “growth connectors.” The Hyderabad–Bengaluru and Hyderabad–Chennai corridors are expected to directly link Hyderabad with the capitals of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, further strengthening the city’s role in regional mobility and economic development.
