Pune: The much-anticipated high-speed rail corridor between Pune and Hyderabad, aimed at drastically reducing travel time, remains stuck on paper due to the lack of approval from the Railway Board of the Central Government. Despite being planned for two years, the project awaits a green signal, prompting state legislators to push for its clearance during the upcoming monsoon session.
Indian High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited's ambitious plan includes eight bullet train routes across the country, with the Mumbai-Nagpur and Mumbai-Pune-Hyderabad corridors being key components. This corridor, spanning approximately 711 kilometers, promises to reduce travel time to just three and a half hours.
The proposed route navigates through Lonavala, Dehu, and Saswad within PMRDA's jurisdiction. Initially excluded from the PMRDA's development blueprint, it was later incorporated following a request from the High-Speed Rail Corporation, removing a significant barrier.
However, the route's passage through newly incorporated areas of Pune Municipal Corporation, such as Phursungi and Lohegaon, presents further challenges. The Municipal Corporation's two Town Planning (TP) schemes in Phursungi are under review, and development plans for the remaining villages are ongoing.
The Municipal Corporation has yet to include the rail route in its planning documents. The DPR, although prepared and submitted two years ago after approval from the Municipal Corporation, still awaits clearance from the Railway Board, leaving the project in limbo.
Project Highlights
Travel Time: 3.5 hours
Estimated Cost: ₹14,000 crore
Passenger Capacity: 750
Speed: 220-350 km/h
Distance: 711 km
Additional Features
Ambitious project by Indian High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited
Route passing through Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh
Limited stops at Pune, Solapur, and Pandharpur
Dedicated tracks planned for the rail
Automatic braking system in case of earthquakes
Immediate earthquake detection and alarm system (UPADAS)
Combination of elevated and underground sections
