Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the progress of India’s first high-speed bullet train project during his visit to Surat, Gujarat. He interacted with engineers and workers involved in the project and assessed adherence to speed and timeline targets. Project personnel informed the Prime Minister that the construction was progressing smoothly.
During the interaction, an engineer from Kerala shared her experience of working at the Noise Barrier Factory in Navsari, where robotic units are being used for welding rebar cages. She described her role in the bullet train project as a matter of pride and said her family viewed it as a significant achievement.
PM Modi spoke about the sense of motivation that comes from contributing to national development. He compared the team’s efforts to India’s early space missions, noting that the pioneering work of scientists during the launch of the country’s first satellite paved the way for India’s current capability to launch hundreds of satellites.
Shruti, a Lead Engineering Manager from Bengaluru, highlighted the strict design and engineering processes followed in the project. She said her team carefully evaluates each stage of work, weighs alternatives and implements solutions to ensure accuracy and efficiency.
The Prime Minister suggested that the experiences and learnings from the project should be documented in a “Blue Book” so that they can guide future high-speed rail initiatives. He said that creating a clear record of decisions and outcomes would help avoid unnecessary experimentation and support large-scale implementation of bullet train systems. PM Modi added that such documentation would also be valuable for students and researchers in the future.
During the session, one of the employees recited a poem expressing his dedication to the project, drawing appreciation from the Prime Minister.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw accompanied PM Modi during the visit.