Bullet train works on track: PM Modi reviews progress at Surat high-speed rail station
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the under-construction bullet train station in Surat on Saturday.
PM urges documentation of project learnings to enable large-scale replication of high-speed corridors
Surat, Nov. 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the under-construction bullet train station in Surat on Saturday and reviewed progress of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor. He interacted with engineers and workers involved in India’s first bullet train project and assessed adherence to construction milestones, speed targets and project timelines.
During the interaction, workers assured the prime minister that civil works, viaduct construction and station development were progressing smoothly. An engineer from Kerala, currently working at the Noise Barrier Factory in Navsari, described her experience with robotic welding units used for rebar cages, calling the project a “dream assignment” for her family and a proud contribution to national infrastructure.
Reflecting on the sense of national service, Modi said that when one works with the feeling of contributing something new to the country, it becomes a source of deep motivation. He compared the moment to the early days of India’s space journey, when the team launching the first satellite experienced a similar sense of historic responsibility.
Shruti from Bengaluru, Lead Engineering Manager, explained that every stage of execution undergoes detailed engineering checks, including analysis of pros and cons, solution mapping and evaluation of alternatives to ensure flawless implementation.
Modi said that documenting these experiences in the form of a “Blue Book” would help India scale high-speed rail projects without repeating experiments. Replication, he said, must be based on a clear understanding of why certain choices were made. He added that such documentation would benefit future engineers, universities and the broader ecosystem involved in nation-building.
An employee also recited a short poem expressing his commitment to the project, to which the prime minister responded with appreciation.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw was present during the visit.
Background
The MAHSR corridor spans 508 km, including 352 km in Gujarat and Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 156 km in Maharashtra. It will connect Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane and Mumbai.
Built with advanced engineering techniques, about 465 km of the route—nearly 85 percent—runs on viaducts for enhanced safety and reduced land disturbance. Of this, 326 km of viaducts and 17 of the 25 river bridges have been completed.
Once operational, the bullet train will cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to around two hours and is expected to boost business, tourism and regional economic activity.
The Surat–Bilimora section (47 km) is in an advanced stage of completion. Civil works and track-bed preparations are finished. The Surat station design draws inspiration from the city’s diamond industry and features spacious lounges, retail space and seamless connectivity to the Surat Metro, city buses and Indian Railways.
