Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project Hits Key Milestone with Kaveri Bridge

India’s premier high-speed rail initiative, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has achieved a critical milestone with the completion of the Kaveri River bridge in Gujarat’s Navsari district. The bridge, inaugurated on 25 August, represents the eleventh of twenty-four river crossings planned for this ambitious corridor.

The Kaveri River bridge, strategically located between Vapi and Bilimora stations, extends 120 metres and is supported by three full-span girders, each measuring 40 metres. The structure’s piers vary in height from 13 to 21 metres, with diameters ranging from 4 to 5 metres. This bridge is crucial in the broader context of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor, which is set to revolutionise travel between two of India’s major economic hubs.

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has been diligently working on this project, already having completed other notable river bridges over the Par, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Auranga, Venganiya, Mohar, Dhadhar, Kolak, and Vatrak rivers. The completion of the Kaveri bridge underscores the project’s progress despite challenges, including delays caused by the monsoon floods in September 2023. In parallel, significant strides are being made on the 1.4-kilometre bridge over the Narmada River, the longest river bridge within Gujarat’s section of the project. The Narmada bridge’s construction involves 25 well foundations, some reaching depths exceeding 70 metres, with the deepest foundation at 77.11 metres, surpassing the height of Delhi’s Qutub Minar.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor, stretching 508 kilometres, will include 12 stations—eight in Gujarat (Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, and Vapi) and four in Maharashtra (Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai). The first phase of the project, between Surat and Bilimora, is targeted for completion by 2026, with the entire corridor expected to be operational by 2028. Once completed, the bullet train will cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to a mere three hours, heralding a new era in high-speed rail travel in India. NHSRCL’s Managing Director has lauded the engineers for their relentless efforts, ensuring timely progress despite unforeseen delays. The project’s successful execution will not only boost connectivity but also underscore India’s commitment to advancing its transportation infrastructure.