Chennai-Bengaluru in 73 mins, Chennai-Hyderabad in 2 hour 55 mins: Vaishnaw unveils 'High-Speed Diamond Corridor'

Chennai: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has officially confirmed the transformative travel times for the newly approved high-speed rail corridors in South India, announcing that the journey between Chennai and Bengaluru will be slashed to just 73 minutes, while Chennai to Hyderabad will take approximately 2 hours and 55 minutes. Dubbing the interconnected network the "High-Speed Diamond Corridor," Vaishnaw stated that trains operating at 350 kmph will soon commence work on these routes, following the green signal in the Union Budget 2026-27.

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The announcement solidifies a major infrastructure leap, positioning high-speed rail as a superior alternative to both existing rail and air travel. The proposed 73-minute Chennai-Bengaluru link contrasts sharply with the current 4-5 hour journey on premium trains like Shatabdi and Vande Bharat. Crucially, it targets the "effective travel time" of flights, which, despite a one-hour air time, typically requires 2-3 hours including airport logistics.

The high-speed rail model, with streamlined city-center stations, aims to make the train the faster and more convenient choice, potentially revolutionizing daily commutes and business travel.

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The "High-Speed Diamond Corridor" is strategically designed to integrate three of India's largest economic hubs—Chennai, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad—which are leaders in IT, automotive manufacturing, and start-ups. By connecting these megacities in under three hours, the project is expected to accelerate business synergy, spur the development of new satellite towns and commercial clusters along the route, and generate widespread employment. It also promises to decongest roads and reduce carbon emissions by diverting inter-city traffic.

With preliminary surveys already reported to be underway, the formal budget allocation and ministerial announcement provide the critical impetus to move the project from planning to active implementation. The corridor is poised to become the backbone of South India's economic geography, setting a new standard for rapid, sustainable, and efficient regional connectivity.