New Steel Bridge Launched for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

A 100-meter steel bridge was launched near Silvassa for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project. The bridge, fabricated in Tamil Nadu, is part of India's 'Make in India' initiative. It represents the fourth out of 28 planned steel bridges, with Japanese collaboration.

On August 25, a 100-meter steel bridge was launched near Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, according to a press release. Weighing 1464 MT and standing 14.6 meters tall and 14.3 meters wide, the bridge was fabricated in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and transported on trailers to the site for installation.

A temporary launching nose, spanning 84 meters and weighing 600 MT, was connected to the main bridge to avoid intermediate support during installation. Additional temporary members were added to reinforce the bridge during the launching process.

Approximately 27,500 HSFG bolts and 55,250 Tor-Shear Type High Strength bolts were used for the bridge and its launching nose. It was assembled at the site on temporary trestles, with a 14.5-meter height from the ground and pulled using a semi-automatic mechanism of 2 jacks, each with a capacity of 250 tons utilizing mac-alloy bars.

The Bullet Train project embodies meticulous execution and high standards of safety and engineering, leveraging both Japanese expertise and India's technical and material resources under the 'Make in India' initiative. This particular bridge is the fourth of 28 planned steel bridges for the Bullet Train corridor.

The project includes 24 river bridges—20 in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra—of which 10 in Gujarat have been completed. The project was initially launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then-Japanese counterpart Shinzo Abe on September 14, 2017.

The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), incorporated on February 12, 2016, is tasked with financing, constructing, maintaining, and managing India's High-Speed Rail Corridor. It operates as a 'Special Purpose Vehicle' with equity participation from the Central and the State Governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra.

(With inputs from agencies.)