High-speed rail corridor connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad has achieved a significant construction milestone, with the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announcing the successful launch of a substantial steel bridge over the two operational tracks of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) near Vadodara in Gujarat on April 8.
This strategic infrastructure development underscores the steady progress being made on this landmark project, which promises to revolutionise inter-city travel in the region. In an official statement released on its website, the NHSRCL highlighted that this is the seventh steel bridge to be successfully completed for the bullet train project within the state of Gujarat. This achievement marks a significant step forward out of the total planned 28 steel bridges that will form an integral part of the entire high-speed rail corridor. Notably, the construction of these seven completed bridges has collectively utilised over 10,000 metric tons of steel, providing a substantial boost to the domestic steel industries in India and exemplifying the project’s positive impact on the national manufacturing sector. The NHSRCL further detailed the intricate process involved in the construction of this particular 674 metric ton steel bridge. Standing at an impressive 13 metres in height and 14 metres in width, the fabrication of this critical structural component was undertaken in a specialised workshop located in Durgapur, Kolkata, in West Bengal. This highlights the pan-Indian nature of the project, leveraging manufacturing expertise from different parts of the country. Following its fabrication, the massive steel structure was meticulously transported on heavy-duty trailers to its designated installation site near Vadodara. The launch operation itself involved the use of a 49-meter-long launching nose, weighing approximately 204 metric tons, which was instrumental in carefully positioning the bridge over the DFCCIL tracks.
The crucial launch operation was successfully completed within a 12-hour timeframe, necessitating essential intermittent blocks on the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India’s tracks. While these temporary disruptions were necessary for ensuring the safety and precision of the bridge installation, they did cause a brief interruption in freight operations on this vital logistics artery. The NHSRCL acknowledged this temporary inconvenience, emphasizing the long-term benefits that the high-speed rail corridor will bring to the region’s overall transportation infrastructure. The NHSRCL’s statement also provided technical insights into the construction of the steel bridge, highlighting the high engineering standards employed. The bridge fabrication utilised approximately 28,800 units of Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts, incorporating a C5 system painting for enhanced durability and elastomeric bearings designed for a robust lifespan of 100 years. Furthermore, the steel bridge was assembled at the construction site at a height of 18 metres from the ground, supported by temporary trestles. The final positioning of the bridge involved a sophisticated automatic mechanism comprising two semi-automatic jacks, each with a capacity of 250 tons, utilising high-strength mac-alloy bars for controlled and precise movement.
This level of engineering detail underscores the complexity and precision involved in constructing the infrastructure for India’s first high-speed rail line, a project that aims to usher in a new era of efficient and sustainable transportation. The steady progress, marked by the completion of these crucial steel bridges, brings the vision of a faster and more interconnected India closer to reality.
Bullet Train Project Achieves Gujarat Milestone
