Telangana set to emerge as high-speed rail hub: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and Information Technology Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday said Telangana is poised to emerge as a major high-speed rail hub with the Centre proposing three bullet train corridors linked to the State capital Hyderabad. He reminded that Telangana received a record budget allocation of ₹5,454 crore for railway projects for the financial year 2026–27.

Addressing reporters after the HYSEA GCCS & IT Roundtable at the Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre, the Minister said Hyderabad would be connected through three high-speed rail corridors — Hyderabad-Chennai, Hyderabad-Bengaluru and Pune-Hyderabad.

Stating that the proposed corridors would integrate regional economies and bring large-scale development to Telangana and neighbouring States, Mr. Vaishnaw said the introduction of high-speed rail would drastically reduce travel time between major cities and expressed confidence that Hyderabad would emerge as a key centre for high-speed rail operations.

Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw with Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy and Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao at Novotel Hyderabad Convention Centre in Hyderabad on Saturday.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR

Highlighting railway development in the State, Mr. Vaishnaw said the Centre had allocated about ₹5,454 crore for railway projects in Telangana, while the railways in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh State received only ₹880 crore during the UPA government. The Minister contrasted the allocation with railway funding during the UPA era, stating that the present government had substantially increased investments in Telangana’s rail network.

He also mentioned the ongoing redevelopment of railway stations under the Centre’s station modernisation programme. According to him, Begumpet and HITEC City railway stations have been completed, while works at Hyderabad (Nampally), Secunderabad, Kazipet Junction and Malakpet are progressing. “The Begumpet station will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon,” he said.

Focusing on the modernisation of Secunderabad railway station, Mr. Vaishnaw said it was being transformed into a modern transport hub despite the challenge of maintaining regular train operations during construction. “Nationwide 261 railway stations had already been redeveloped, with the target of completing 400 stations by the end of this year and 700 by next year,” he said.

On Telangana’s growth in the electronics manufacturing sector, he stated that the State had benefited significantly from Central government initiatives. He said Telangana now hosts more than 100 electronics manufacturing companies and has emerged as an important electronics production hub.

Union Minister for Coal and Mines G. Kishan Reddy, Telangana BJP president N. Ramchander Rao and other leaders were present at the event.