South Central Railway (SCR) has begun final locational surveys for two high?speed corridors linking Hyderabad with Bengaluru and Chennai, covering 626 km and 705 km respectively. The surveys are being carried out by Rail India Technical and Economic Service (RITES) and address route alignments, land requirements and engineering constraints. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) conducted an independent survey for the Hyderabad–Mumbai corridor about a year ago.

A senior official said the Railway Minister indicated that high?speed connectivity would first be established between Mumbai and Pune and subsequently between Pune and Hyderabad, effectively creating a direct high?speed link between Hyderabad and Mumbai. Finer details and timelines are expected to emerge as surveys conclude and inter?agency coordination progresses.

Planned trains are to operate at a maximum speed of 350 kmph with an operational speed of 320 kmph and will use standard?gauge tracks similar to metro systems. Most technology and systems are expected to mirror those used in the ongoing Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train project, including signalling and track design. Surveys emphasise achieving design speeds while minimising land acquisition and urban disruption.

Projected travel times aim to reduce journey duration between Hyderabad and Bengaluru to around one hour fifty?five minutes and between Hyderabad and Chennai to about two and a half hours. These reductions are central to planning studies that assess economic benefits, passenger demand projections and integration with existing rail networks. Three of the seven high?speed corridors announced in the Union Budget 2026-27 are intended to link Hyderabad with other major cities.

Progress on the locational surveys will inform detailed project reports, environmental clearances and funding decisions, and will determine phasing and construction schedules. Coordination between South Central Railway and National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited will be critical to align route planning and technical standards, while RITES will complete field surveys and produce alignment recommendations. Officials expect further announcements as surveys conclude and statutory clearances are sought.