PM Modi Reviews Bullet Train Progress in Surat, Calls for ‘Blue Book’ of Learnings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the under-construction Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) station site in Surat on 17 November 2025, taking a detailed review of India’s first bullet train project. The Prime Minister spent time with engineers and project teams, asking them to document every major technical challenge and solution so the country can build future high-speed corridors with greater efficiency. He described this compiled manual as a potential ‘blue book’ for India’s high-speed rail journey.

During the on-site briefing, officials updated him that around 326 km of viaduct work has already been completed, and 17 out of 25 river bridges are finished along the corridor. PM Modi appreciated the pace but stressed that India must aim for world-class execution standards, especially on speed trials and project timelines. He also interacted with workers at the station site, acknowledging their role in building a project that will redefine inter-city connectivity.

The MAHSR corridor — spanning 508 km between Mumbai and Ahmedabad — is expected to be fully operational by 2029, with a shorter stretch potentially ready by 2027. Once launched, travel time between the two cities is expected to drop dramatically to around two hours, compared to the current 6–7 hours by conventional rail.

The Prime Minister’s comments hinted that more bullet train routes may be announced in the coming years, based on the learnings from this flagship project. He said that large-scale infrastructure works must create a culture of documentation, so India’s engineering expertise grows stronger with each new project.

His visit comes at a crucial stage when viaduct building, station works and systems installation are all running in parallel. With this inspection, the government has signalled a renewed push to keep India’s first bullet train corridor on schedule and prepare for the next phase of high-speed rail expansion.