Mumbai-Hyderabad bullet train DPR ready; Kalaburagi to emerge as key Karnataka hub

Bengaluru: India has moved a step closer to expanding its high-speed rail network with the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the proposed Mumbai-Hyderabad Bullet Train Corridor now completed. The ambitious project, which will connect the country's financial capital Mumbai with Hyderabad, one of India's leading technology hubs, is expected to significantly reduce travel time while boosting economic activity across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana.

According to a report the proposed high-speed rail corridor will stretch across 671 kilometres and pass through three states. Karnataka is set to play a crucial role in the project, with Kalaburagi identified as the state's major bullet train station.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the agency responsible for implementing India's bullet train projects, has prepared the DPR and submitted it for further consideration. The proposed corridor will cover 457 kilometres in Maharashtra, 121 kilometres in Karnataka and 93 kilometres in Telangana.

For Karnataka, the project carries particular significance as the Kalaburagi station is expected to serve as a gateway for the entire Kalyana Karnataka region. The high-speed rail connection is expected to provide faster travel options for businesspersons, students, professionals and tourists while improving regional connectivity and attracting new investments.

One of the most striking features of the project is the dramatic reduction in travel time. At present, trains operating between Mumbai and Hyderabad typically take between 12 and 15 hours to complete the journey. Under the proposed bullet train system, trains are expected to operate at speeds of around 300 kilometres per hour.

As per project estimates, a non-stop service between Mumbai and Hyderabad could complete the journey in just 2 hours and 55 minutes. Even with halts at major stations along the route, the total travel time is expected to remain around 3 hours and 13 minutes, making it one of the fastest rail connections in the country.

The corridor is designed to connect major economic and industrial centres including Mumbai, Pune, Solapur, Kalaburagi and Hyderabad. Experts believe the project could create a powerful economic corridor linking India's financial and information technology sectors.

The proposed stations in Maharashtra include Vikhroli, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Lonavala, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Baramati, Pandharpur and Solapur. Karnataka will have a key station at Kalaburagi, while Telangana's proposed stations include Kokapet, Vikarabad and Shamshabad. A large maintenance depot is also planned near Hyderabad's Shamshabad International Airport.

The most technically challenging section of the project lies in the Khandala Ghat region of Maharashtra. Due to the difficult terrain of the Western Ghats, engineers have proposed an extensive underground and tunnel network. The DPR includes plans for 13 modern tunnels spread across approximately 24 kilometres in the region. In total, around 35 kilometres of underground track has been proposed, making it one of the most complex railway engineering projects undertaken in India.

With the DPR reaching its final stage, NHSRCL has sought cooperation from the governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and Telangana for land acquisition and statutory clearances. Discussions between the Centre and state governments are reportedly underway to facilitate the acquisition of land required for the rail corridor and to expedite approvals from various departments.

If all approvals and clearances are secured on schedule, groundwork for the project could begin by the end of 2026. The Central Government is reportedly targeting completion of the corridor within the next decade, paving the way for a transformative high-speed transportation network connecting western and southern India.