Centre to finalise Telangana bullet train route: BJP MPs

BJP MPs from Telangana said the state government has no role in finalising the alignment or route of the proposed bullet train project in the state, and that the routes will be decided by the Centre. After a meeting with South Central Railway officials on Thursday, Medak MP Raghunandan Rao clarified that even SCR has no role in the route finalisation, and that the alignment will be determined by the Centre and the agency entrusted with the project.

The clarification followed a meeting between six Telangana BJP MPs and Union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The MPs said the minister informed them that a separate corporation has been formed to implement the bullet train projects, with its head office in Bengaluru. Detailed project reports are expected to be completed at the earliest, with works likely to commence in 2027.

Separately, Congress and BRS MPs urged SCR to expedite pending works including construction of road over bridges and road under bridges, redevelopment of railway stations, and restoration of train stoppages discontinued during the pandemic. They also raised issues including railway connectivity in Khammam and renaming of Bhadrachalam Road railway station.