Naidu Unveils Bullet Train, Water Plans for South India

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced ambitious plans to revolutionize South India’s connectivity and water infrastructure, unveiling a bullet train network linking Hyderabad, Amaravati, Chennai, and Bengaluru, and pledging to provide water to every acre in the state. Speaking at the India Food Manufacturing Summit in Visakhapatnam and a public meeting in Paramasamudram, Naidu outlined a vision to boost economic growth and transform the arid Rayalaseema region.

Naidu revealed that a bullet train corridor, serving over five crore people across the four major cities, is in the works, with a survey already underway. “Very soon, the bullet train is coming to South India. It will connect Hyderabad, Chennai, Amaravati, and Bengaluru, the biggest market in the world,” he said, emphasizing its potential to enhance logistics and economic ties. The 448-km Hyderabad-Chennai route via Amaravati will include stops like Guntur, Ongole, and Nellore, while the 576.6-km Hyderabad-Bengaluru corridor will feature stations in Kurnool and Anantapur. A Bengaluru-Chennai route will complete a high-speed quadrilateral, reducing travel times to 1-2 hours. Naidu, who discussed the project with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in October 2024, expects construction to begin in 2026, drawing inspiration from India’s Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train, set for a 2027 launch.

Alongside, Naidu promised to upgrade Andhra Pradesh’s roadways to international standards, including remote roads, and expand key highways. The Vijayawada-Hyderabad highway will become an eight-lane expressway, and a greenfield expressway will link Machilipatnam to Hyderabad, connecting Telangana to a dry port. A 183-km outer ring road for Amaravati has also been approved, with works starting soon.

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In Paramasamudram, Naidu performed the ‘Jala Harati’ ritual to mark Krishna River water reaching Kuppam via the Handri-Neeva canal, an engineering feat spanning 738 km and lifting water 700 meters. “It is my responsibility to provide water to every acre, and your duty to use it for development,” he told farmers, urging them to grow cash crops over paddy. The Handri-Neeva project, initiated in 1999, will irrigate six lakh acres and provide drinking water to 33 lakh people, with Phase II set to supply Chittoor by 2026. Naidu aims to transform Rayalaseema into ‘Ratanala Seema’ (region of precious stones), contrasting it with its ‘Rallaseema’ (region of stones) past, when water was scarce enough to require train transport for livestock.

Naidu accused the previous YSRCP government of spending only ₹2,000 crore on Rayalaseema projects compared to his TDP’s ₹12,500 crore from 2014-2019, alleging they were “adept at lying.” He outlined plans to interlink rivers like Vamsadhara, Godavari, Krishna, and Pennar to prevent water loss to the sea, and ensure groundwater availability at 3-8 meters. A development blueprint prioritizes horticulture, defense, aerospace, and green hydrogen industries, with ₹9,000 crore in investments already secured.

Focusing on Kuppam, Naidu highlighted ₹3,908 crore in investments, creating 10,600 direct and 26,581 indirect jobs, including a Hindalco plant for iPhone parts. Kuppam airport, set to open in December 2025, will handle cargo and passengers, with robust road links to Bengaluru. “Kuppam will be Andhra’s laboratory for progress,” he said, positioning it as a competitive hub.

Naidu’s vision, backed by central support including a ₹12,500 crore revised estimate for the Polavaram project and a World Bank loan for Amaravati, aims to make Andhra Pradesh a logistics and industrial powerhouse, leveraging high-speed rail and water security to drive growth.

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