A former Japanese minister has sharply criticized India for delays to the bullet train project associated with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ex-minister faulted what he called weak project management, procurement complications, and shifting timelines that have pushed construction milestones beyond targets. He warned that recurring slippage can raise costs and complicate coordination with technology and supply partners. Indian officials responded by saying the schedule is being refined to improve safety and interoperability. The dispute highlights growing scrutiny of high-speed rail delivery across Asia.