In a significant stride for India’s high-speed rail ambitions, the National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRC) successfully installed a 60-metre steel bridge in Vadodara, Gujarat, as part of the ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. Launched under the government’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, this bridge is designed to support the country’s first bullet train corridor and marks a critical milestone in the project’s development.
The bridge, positioned on the Bajva-Chhayapuri chord line of Western Railway, was manufactured in Bhachau, Gujarat, and transported to the site for installation. Weighing 645 metric tonnes, the bridge spans 14.7 metres in width and stands at 12.5 metres in height. Equipped to last for a century, it was assembled with over 25,000 high-strength Tor-Shear Type bolts, designed to withstand long-term wear and tear. Elastomeric bearings and specialised C5 system paint were also used to enhance durability and resilience. According to NHSRC, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor aims to reduce travel time to approximately two hours, a substantial improvement over the current 6-7 hours by conventional trains.
When operational, the bullet trains will run at speeds of up to 320 km/h, with 35 trains planned daily, providing a 20-minute frequency during peak times. This high-speed network will be monitored from a control room located at Sabarmati. The bridge’s installation involved advanced engineering techniques, including an automatic mechanism featuring two semi-automatic jacks, each with a lifting capacity of 250 tonnes. These jacks elevated the bridge to its final height of 23.5 metres, positioned atop a pier 21 metres above ground. This process, which employed Mac-alloy bars, underscores the precision engineering driving the bullet train project.
The government, in an official statement, highlighted that Japanese expertise has been utilised in tandem with Indian technology and materials to ensure a robust and safe construction, embodying ‘Make in India’ values. “This project showcases engineering excellence and sets the bar for future high-speed rail projects in India,” the statement noted. As one of India’s most ambitious infrastructure projects, the bullet train will connect Mumbai and Ahmedabad and is expected to enhance the region’s connectivity and economic prospects. With further progress anticipated, this achievement brings India a step closer to joining the ranks of countries with advanced high-speed rail networks, while also fostering local industry and technological expertise.
