New Delhi, May 8: The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is regarded as one of India’s largest and most modern infrastructure initiatives. This project represents a significant advancement in high-speed rail technology within the country. Recently, a 40-meter-long girder was successfully launched at the Vadodara Vadser Road Over Bridge using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM).
The Full Span Launching Method is notable because it allows the entire structure to be launched simultaneously, ensuring that the work is completed quickly and safely. This operation took place not in an open area but in a highly congested urban corridor, where over 100 trains and approximately 70,000 vehicles pass daily. Conducting construction in such an environment poses significant challenges, yet it was completed successfully in just 2 hours and 13 minutes.
The responsibility for this entire project lies with the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which is developing the bullet train corridor. The project spans approximately 508 kilometers, connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad. To date, about 349 kilometers of viaduct and 443 piers have been completed.
Additionally, 17 river bridges, 5 pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridges, and 13 steel bridges have also been finished. To mitigate noise, over 570,000 noise barriers have been installed, covering nearly 288 kilometers of the route.
Track laying is progressing rapidly. So far, 374 track kilometers (187 route kilometers) of RC track bed have been prepared, and 191 route kilometers of track slabs are ready. Of these, 74 route kilometers have had track slabs laid, with cement asphalt mortar (CAM) injected.
Regarding the electrical system, more than 7,700 OHE masts have been installed, covering approximately 179 route kilometers. Work on the top conductor stringing has also commenced, which is essential for the electric operation of the trains.
Tunnel construction is another significant aspect of this project. The only mountain tunnel in Gujarat has been completed, while breakthroughs have been achieved in two of the seven tunnels in Maharashtra’s Palghar district. In the 21-kilometer tunnel between BKC and Shilphata near Mumbai, 5 kilometers of work has been completed, with the remaining work being carried out by Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs).
Regarding the depots, the wheel lathe installation at the Surat rolling stock depot is complete, while steel structure work is ongoing at the Sabarmati depot. Foundations for all eight stations—Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand-Nadiad, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati—have been completed, and finishing work is progressing swiftly.
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