Southern India set for First Bullet Train Project

High-speed rail may soon transform travel across South India, with plans for a new bullet train linking Hyderabad, Chennai, Amaravati and Bengaluru. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced that a survey for the project has been ordered, setting the groundwork for what could be one of the most significant infrastructure moves in the region.

The project follows the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train, India’s first, and looks to position South India as the next hub for modern rail connectivity. Naidu, speaking at the India Food Manufacturing Summit in Visakhapatnam, highlighted that the four cities together account for more than five crore people, making them a vital market for both travel and trade.

The timing of the announcement coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Japan, where he travelled in a bullet train alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. Modi reiterated India’s commitment to expanding high-speed rail, calling it a key step in the country’s transport revolution.

If realised, the South India bullet train could drastically cut journey times between the four metros, easing commutes, strengthening business ties, and opening doors for tourism and industry. Beyond convenience, the project carries the promise of regional growth, linking the economies of Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka more closely than ever before.

For travellers, the prospect of zipping between cities in a fraction of the time may soon become a reality, reshaping the way South India moves.