Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru high-speed rail project likely to be a game-changer

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) already awarded contracts for the preparation of General Alignment Drawings, surveying, identification of overhead, overground, and underground utilities, and identification of power sourcing options for substations.

Sources said that a land survey along the corridor is underway and that the NHSRCL has also conducted meetings with affected landowners. The Detailed Project Report (DPR) will reveal the exact alignment, location of stations, estimated ridership and fare structure.

The HSR alignment is being planned along the Bengaluru-Chennai expressway between Hoskote near Bengaluru, Karnataka, and Sriperumbudur near Chennai. It is also likely to be closer to the second airport in Chennai at Parandur, which is just 3 km away from the new Bengaluru-Chennai expressway.

At present, the fastest train between Mysuru and Chennai via Bengaluru is the Vande Bharat Express, which takes 6 hours and 30 minutes. However, the bullet train can complete the journey in 2 hours and 25 minutes. Bullet trains will run at a maximum speed of 350 kmph, and the average speed is likely to be 250 kmph, with each train having a capacity of 750 passengers.

Boost to Industries

The HSR project is expected to benefit thousands of people, especially individuals in business, techies, and others who travel between Mysuru, Bengaluru, and Chennai.

Mohandas Pai, former CFO of Infosys and Chairman of Aarin Capital, told Moneycontrol, "The Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru high-speed rail project will be a major boost to business travel. I anticipate that business deals and visits will increase by 5X. Once the travel time between Chennai and Bengaluru/Mysuru is reduced with HSR, we will witness more business trips."

Rail experts said the HSR could attract air passengers to trains. K N Krishna Prasad, railway activist and member of the NGO Karnataka Railway Vedike, said, "The distance between Mysuru and Chennai is currently 490 km on the existing railway route, and the proposed alignment via Bangarapet is around 435 km, which will reduce travel time. The HSR ticket fare is expected to be higher than the first-class AC fare on Indian Railways''.

He said air passengers traveling on the Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru sector may consider shifting, as they won't need to arrive early for airport check-ins and also avoid the journey to the Bengaluru airport, which is located around 40 km from the Central Business District."

He said that the major issues revolve around land acquisition. "Once the land is acquired, then the project will also be on track."

Citing the example of the Bengaluru-Mysuru expressway, Pai remarked, "It has positively impacted tourism in Mysuru and nearby districts, and improved hotel occupancy. Imagine an employee being able to stay in Mysuru, work in Bengaluru, and return to Mysuru after work. The Bengaluru-Chennai region has lot of industries and vast potential, so the project should be expedited."

Also, read: Bengaluru-Mysuru in 75-90 minutes. All you need to know about the new expressway

Association of Indian Entrepreneurs (AIE) Chairman KE Raghunathan, said: "There should be a thorough study on the viability of this HSR, and consultation with industrial bodies is essential. For instance, Vande Bharat trains were introduced on this route with premium fares but with no improvement in speed. China is already operating trains with speeds above 450 kmph. If the travel time is not significantly reduced and only fares are increased, then patronage will be less, and it will not be lucrative for business-class people to shift from flights to trains."

German, and Chinese studies

In 2016, a team of German engineers conducted a feasibility study for the Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru corridor. According to the final feasibility report submitted to the railways in 2018, which was fully funded by the German government, the estimated cost of the 435-km HSR network will be around $16 billion (about Rs 1 lakh crore). According to the report, of the 435 Km, 84 percent of the track will be elevated, 11 percent underground, and the remaining five percent will be at ground level. With JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) funding, NHSRCL is likely to implement HSR corridors based on Japan's E5 Shinkansen bullet train technology.

Also, read: Germany proposes high-speed network between Chennai-Mysore to cut travel time by five hours

Separately, China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group submitted an interim report in June 2015 for a semi-high-speed rail project, intending to strengthen the tracks for running trains at 160 kmph on the Mysuru- Bengaluru- Chennai route. According to the Chinese firm, travel time between Chennai and Mysuru via Bengaluru can be reduced to 4 hours and 45 minutes with an investment of Rs 4,350 crore to convert the existing tracks to run trains at 160 kmph.  However, due to tensions between New Delhi and Beijing following Covid-19 and border issues, India is unlikely to collaborate with Chinese firms.

The railways also recently invited bids for a final location survey (FLS) for a new semi-high-speed broad gauge line between Chennai and Bengaluru. The design speed of the proposed line is targeted to be 220 kmph, with an operational speed of 200 kmph. The Rail Ministry has allocated Rs 8.3 crore for the survey, which will cover the stretch between Byappanahalli in Bengaluru and Chennai Central, spanning around 350 km.

Also, read: Bengaluru-Chennai train journey may soon be reduced to 2 hours

After the launch of the Vande Bharat Express, both South Western Railway (KSR Bengaluru City-Jolarpettai section) and Southern Railway (Jolarpettai-Chennai section) were working to increase the maximum permissible speed from 110 kmph to 130kmph. Once the tracks are upgraded to 130-160 kmph, trains could run at an average speed of 110-120 kmph. Last year, South Western Railway conducted a speed trial on the KSR Bengaluru City-Jolarpettai route to increase the maximum permissible speed from 110 kmph to 130 kmph. Similarly, maximum permissible speed on the Chennai-Jolarpettai route was raised to 130 kmph. "Increasing the maximum permissible speed beyond 130 kmph will necessitate strengthening or rebuilding bridges, fencing, eliminating level crossings, and flattening curves/gradients. The number of stoppages will also impact the average speed," said an official.

Other HSR projects

NHSRCL officials said that the Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR project is the only sanctioned project in the country being implemented with technical and financial assistance from the Japanese government. However, surveys and the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for seven HSR corridors have been identified: Delhi-Varanasi, Delhi-Ahmedabad, Mumbai-Nagpur, Mumbai-Hyderabad, Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru, Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar, and Varanasi-Howrah. According to the Centre’s National Rail Plan (NRP), it was proposed to extend the Mumbai-Hyderabad HSR from Hyderabad to Bengaluru. As per NRP, Hyderabad is expected to have bullet train connectivity to Bengaluru by 2041. The Chennai-Bengaluru-Mysuru HSR is planned for 2051. However, these deadlines may be advanced based on the success of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad HSR, which is likely to be operational between 2026 and 2030. Once the detailed project report is prepared, the project is likely to gain momentum.

Also, read: India's first bullet train set to roll out in 2026, says Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw