PM Modi reviews progress of India’s first Bullet Train project
New Delhi, Nov 16: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday visited the under-construction bullet train station in Surat to review progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor, India’s first bullet train project.
During the visit, he inspected key construction zones, interacted with engineers and project teams, and sought updates on timelines, technology deployment and adherence to speed and safety standards. Workers told him the project was progressing steadily and without major obstacles.
Among those he met was a young engineer from Kerala working at the Noise Barrier Factory in Navsari, where robotic systems are being used to weld rebar cages. She described the opportunity to work on India’s first high-speed rail line as a “dream project” and spoke of the pride her family felt in her contribution. Modi asked her how it felt to be part of a historic national effort; she said it was a moment she would remember for life. PM Modi used the interaction to reflect on the motivation that comes from building something new for the nation. He likened the engineers’ experience to that of the scientists who launched India’s first satellite decades ago, a milestone that paved the way for today’s robust space programme.
Shruti, a Lead Engineering Manager from Bengaluru, briefed the Prime Minister on the stringent design controls and engineering checks built into the project. She said her team evaluates alternatives at every stage to ensure flawless implementation. Encouraging the team to capture their learning systematically, Modi said the project would benefit from a “Blue Book” compiling insights gained during construction, so that future high-speed rail projects can be delivered more efficiently. Replication, he argued, only works when the reasoning behind each decision is understood, otherwise it risks becoming directionless. Such documentation, he added, would serve future engineering students and strengthen India’s infrastructure capabilities. One employee also recited a poem expressing his dedication to the project, which Modi warmly appreciated. Railways and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw accompanied the Prime Minister during the visit.
A TRANSFORMATIVE PROJECT FOR WESTERN INDIA
The Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR), spanning 508 km, including 352 km in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 156 km in Maharashtra is among India’s most ambitious infrastructure ventures. It aims to cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to about two hours, vastly improving inter-city mobility and unlocking economic potential along the route. Built to international standards, the line uses advanced engineering techniques, with around 85% of the corridor elevated on viaducts to reduce land disruption and enhance safety. Of the 465 km of planned viaducts, 326 km have already been completed, along with 17 of the 25 river bridges. The Surat–Bilimora stretch, about 47 km long, is now in an advanced phase, with civil works and track-bed laying completed. The Surat station itself draws architectural inspiration from the city’s famed diamond industry, blending function with symbolic design. It will feature spacious lounges, rest areas, retail spaces and seamless connections to the Surat Metro, local bus services and the Indian Railways network. Once operational, the bullet train is expected to spur business, tourism and regional development across the corridor, marking India’s entry into a new era of high-speed connectivity.
