Travel between Mumbai and Hyderabad could become dramatically faster with the proposed high-speed bullet train corridor moving closer to implementation. The ambitious rail project is expected to reduce journey time between the two cities to nearly three hours, significantly improving intercity connectivity across western and southern India.
The proposed high-speed rail network will also link major urban centres including Pune, Chennai and Bengaluru. According to reports, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has informed the Telangana government that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been completed after an extensive route survey.
Officials estimate that the fastest journey between Hyderabad and Mumbai could take approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes, while the longest trip duration is expected to remain within 3 hours and 13 minutes. Currently, the route takes nearly 12 hours by road and up to 15 hours through conventional railway services.
The proposed corridor will span around 671 kilometres, passing through Telangana, Karnataka and Maharashtra. Of the total alignment, nearly 93 kilometres will fall within Telangana, 121 kilometres in Karnataka and 457 kilometres in Maharashtra.
The project will involve large-scale engineering infrastructure, including elevated rail tracks, underground sections, tunnels and bridges. One of the most technically demanding stretches is expected to be the Khandala Ghat section in Maharashtra, where authorities are planning 13 tunnels with a combined length of around 24 kilometres. Additionally, nearly 35.3 kilometres of underground rail sections are proposed at three locations in the state.
The corridor will also include 101 bridges, including 13 steel bridges. Key structures planned include a 360-metre bridge over the Mula-Mutha River, a 280-metre bridge across the Bhima River and a 225-metre bridge over the Bori River.
Passenger demand projections indicate that the service could attract more than 63,000 daily commuters in its opening year, expected around 2050, with ridership potentially crossing 1.5 lakh passengers per day by 2061.
Each bullet train is expected to operate with 16 coaches and a seating capacity of 1,215 passengers. Major maintenance depots are planned in Thane and Hyderabad, while Mumbai is expected to house the operational control centre.
Source: Mumbai Live
