Prime Minister Narendra Modi has urged engineers involved in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, popularly known as the bullet train project, to meticulously document their experiences. This documentation, according to the Prime Minister, would serve as a valuable resource for planning and executing similar high-speed rail projects in other parts of the country.
PM Modi made this request during his visit to Surat, Gujarat on Saturday, where he reviewed the progress of the ambitious MAHSR project. He interacted with engineers and workers at the under-construction Surat bullet train station in the Antroli area, assessing the project's adherence to speed and timeline targets. Project personnel assured the Prime Minister that construction was proceeding smoothly.
During his interaction with the project team, PM Modi drew a parallel between the bullet train project and India's space program. He recalled the early days of India's space journey when scientists launched the country's first satellite and compared that pioneering spirit to the work being done on the bullet train. He noted that the experiences and knowledge gained from the MAHSR project could pave the way for future high-speed rail initiatives, just as the early space missions led to India's current capabilities in launching satellites.
The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of avoiding repeated experimentation and instead replicating the learnings from existing models. He suggested compiling a "Blue Book" of experiences to guide future projects, ensuring that replication is purposeful and well-directed. He cautioned that replication without a clear understanding of the reasons behind specific actions could be meaningless. Maintaining such records, he affirmed, would benefit future students and contribute to nation-building.
The MAHSR project, a 508-km corridor connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad, is one of India's most ambitious infrastructure initiatives. It aims to revolutionize inter-city travel by reducing travel time between the two cities to approximately two hours. The corridor covers 352 km in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli, and 156 km in Maharashtra, linking major cities including Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, Thane and Mumbai.
According to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), nearly 85% of the route, about 465 km, is being built on elevated viaducts to minimize land disturbance and enhance safety. As of November 2025, 326 km of viaduct work has been completed, along with 17 of the 25 river bridges proposed on the route. The 47-km Surat–Bilimora stretch is in an advanced stage of completion, with civil works and track-bed laying finished.
The Surat station, designed with inspiration from the city's diamond industry, will feature spacious waiting lounges, restrooms, retail areas, and seamless connectivity with the Surat Metro, city buses, and Indian Railways.
During his visit, PM Modi interacted with an engineer from Kerala working at the Noise Barrier Factory in Navsari, Gujarat, where robotic units are deployed for welding rebar cages. She expressed pride in contributing to the project, describing it as a dream project and a proud moment for her family. Shruti, a Lead Engineering Manager from Bengaluru, explained the rigorous design and engineering control processes, emphasizing her team's focus on flawless implementation.
The Prime Minister's emphasis on documentation and knowledge sharing underscores the government's commitment to building expertise in high-speed rail technology and ensuring that the MAHSR project serves as a foundation for future infrastructure development.
