The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has successfully launched a 100m-long, 1432-metric-tonne steel bridge over four railway tracks in Surat, Gujarat, for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. Built under the “Make in India” initiative, this marks the sixth steel bridge launched in Gujarat out of the 17 planned.
Introduction:
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has reached another milestone with the successful launch of a 100m-long steel bridge over four railway tracks—two of Western Railways and two Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) tracks—between Kim and Sayan in Surat, Gujarat. The bridge is a crucial part of the high-speed corridor and is designed to support double-line Standard Gauge rail tracks.
Engineering and Launch Details:
- The bridge consists of two spans: a 100m span launched over railway and DFC tracks and an upcoming 60m span over an adjacent irrigation canal.
- The 100m span launch took place between January 28 and February 5, 2025 using an 84m-long launching nose weighing 525 metric tonnes.
- The steel bridge, weighing 1432 metric tonnes, was fabricated at an RDSO-approved workshop in Bhuj, Gujarat, and transported to the site for installation.
- It was assembled at a height of 14.5m and pulled using semi-automatic jacks (250-ton capacity each) and Mac-Loy bars (50mm diameter).
- The bridge assembly used 60,000 Tor-Shear Type High Strength bolts designed for a 100-year lifespan.
Precision, Safety, and ‘Make in India’ Impact:
- The launch was executed in phases with intermittent traffic blocks to ensure minimal disruption to Western Railway and DFC operations.
- The C5 system painting and elastomeric bearings enhance the durability of the structure.
- By incorporating Japanese expertise and maximizing indigenous resources, the project aligns with India’s “Make in India” initiative, showcasing its growing self-reliance in high-speed infrastructure.
Significance in Bullet Train Corridor:
- This is the sixth steel bridge launched out of 17 planned along the Gujarat portion of the Bullet Train alignment.
- Previously completed steel bridges include spans of 70m, 100m, 230m (100+130m), 100m, and 60m in Surat, Anand, Vadodara, Silvassa (Dadra & Nagar Haveli), and Vadodara.
Conclusion:
The successful launch of the 100m-long steel bridge in Surat marks a significant engineering achievement for India’s first Bullet Train project. As work progresses, the project is setting new benchmarks in infrastructure development under “Make in India,” reinforcing India’s capability to execute high-speed rail projects with world-class standards.
Source: NHSRCL – Press Release | Image Credit: NHSRCL
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