New Delhi: The Mumbai-Hyderabad High-Speed Rail (MHHSR) project, aimed at transforming intercity travel in southern and western India, is steadily progressing through its planning phase. The Ministry of Railways has reportedly received a detailed project report (DPR).
Spanning about 767 kilometers, this ambitious bullet train corridor will connect key urban hubs, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad, via 11 stations across Maharashtra and Telangana.
Conceived as part of India’s broader high-speed rail (HSR) vision announced in 2019, the MHHSR is the fifth out of six planned corridors intended to modernise the country’s long-distance passenger rail network.
While construction has yet to commence, preparatory activities such as tendering for groundwork began in October 2020, indicating steady administrative progress.
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the nodal agency overseeing India’s bullet train projects, has submitted the DPR to the Ministry of Railways.
The project reportedly remains a feasible proposition and is among the more advanced routes in terms of planning, despite none of the new corridors having entered the construction stage yet.
The MHHSR line is designed to incorporate cutting-edge technology, ensuring high-speed operations with top-tier safety standards.
The trainsets will be capable of reaching a maximum speed of 350 km/h, with a proposed operational speed of 320 km/h and an average journey speed of around 250 km/h.
The corridor will use the standard gauge (1435 mm), equipped with DS-ATC (Digital Signalling – Automatic Train Control), 25 kv AC overhead electrification, and a passenger capacity of approximately 750 per train.
A key highlight of the project is its comprehensive safety framework, which includes the Urgent Earthquake Detection and Alarm System (UrEDAS), a crucial addition given the corridor’s diverse terrain.
The line will feature a mix of elevated, underground, and at-grade track alignments, linking cities and semi-urban centres in a seamless transport corridor. The proposed alignment may begin near Thane and run parallel to major national highways and expressways to ensure regional integration.
Planned stations along the corridor include Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Lonavala, Pune, Kurkumbh, Akluj, Pandharpur, Solapur, Kalaburagi, Zaheerabad, and Hyderabad. The route is also expected to interface with the under-construction Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project at Package C3, enhancing network synergy.
Although fare structures are yet to be finalised, early estimates suggest that ticket prices may be about 1.5 times the current AC first-class fares of Indian Railways. As the project advances, more concrete pricing details will emerge.
Several key infrastructure firms have already been shortlisted for critical roles, signalling a growing industry interest and reinforcing confidence in the MHHSR’s potential to reshape India’s transport landscape.
