South Bullet Train Corridor to Connect Bengaluru with Hyderabad, Amaravati and Chennai: Railway Minister Announces Plans
Bengaluru, November 2, 2026 (Udaipur Kiran): Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that the proposed South Bullet Train Corridor will connect Bengaluru with Hyderabad, Amaravati and Chennai. He also said that Vande Bharat train services between Bengaluru and Mangaluru are expected to begin in the coming weeks after the completion of electrification and testing work.
Vaishnaw made the announcements while flagging off the Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai on the occasion of Karnataka Rajyotsava. He said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved the South Bullet Train Corridor, which will connect major technology and economic centres in the region and support the development of southern states.
According to the Railway Minister, the proposed corridor is expected to significantly reduce travel time. The journey between Bengaluru and Chennai is expected to take just 73 minutes, while travel between Bengaluru and Hyderabad could take around 2 hours and 10 minutes.
4,000-Km Bullet Train Corridor Approved
Vaishnaw said Bengaluru and Chennai would effectively become like one city because of the improved connectivity. The project is expected to strengthen economic integration among major cities in South India.
He added that as India moves towards the goal of a developed nation, the Prime Minister has approved 4,000 km of bullet train corridors. Another 3,000 km of corridors are expected to be announced in the coming days.
Bengaluru-Mangaluru Vande Bharat Service in the Coming Weeks
The Railway Minister also expressed confidence that the proposed Bengaluru-Pune Bullet Train Corridor, which will pass through northern Karnataka, would become a reality soon.
Referring to the demand for better railway connectivity in Karnataka’s coastal areas, Vaishnaw described Mangaluru as an important city. He said electrification and testing work on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru route would be completed in the next few weeks.
“We will have a Vande Bharat train between Mangaluru and Bengaluru,” he said, adding that the service would provide high-quality connectivity to the entire region.
Another Vande Bharat Sleeper Service to Connect North Karnataka with Pune and Mumbai
Vaishnaw also announced another Vande Bharat Sleeper service in Karnataka. The proposed service will connect Bengaluru with northern Karnataka, travel towards Hubballi and continue to Pune and Mumbai.
Bengaluru-Mumbai Vande Bharat Sleeper Route
Explaining the route of the newly launched Vande Bharat Sleeper service between Bengaluru and Mumbai, Vaishnaw said the train would travel from Bengaluru through Guntakal in Andhra Pradesh.
It will then pass through Raichur, Yadgir and Kalaburagi before re-entering Karnataka and continuing towards Maharashtra.
He said the route would cover a large part of northern Karnataka, where railway connectivity had previously been limited. The route was finalised after discussions with Union Ministers Pralhad Joshi, H. D. Kumaraswamy and V. Somanna.
Modern Railway Services for Common and Middle-Class Families
Recalling the commitment behind the introduction of Vande Bharat Sleeper services, Vaishnaw said November 1, celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava, was an auspicious occasion to launch the service.
He said the Prime Minister had instructed the Railways to keep common people and middle-class families in mind while introducing modern train services. The aim is to ensure that the benefits also reach the poorest sections of society, young people and women.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.