The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project reached a notable milestone with the inauguration of a 100-metre steel bridge near Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli. This bridge, which weighs 1,464 metric tonnes, stands 14.6 metres high and spans 14.3 metres in width, exemplifies India’s commitment to leveraging domestic technical and material resources under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Constructed at a workshop in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, the steel bridge was transported to the site and assembled using advanced engineering techniques. To facilitate its installation without intermediary support, a temporary launching nose, measuring 84 metres in length and weighing 600 metric tonnes, was integrated with the main structure. Additional temporary supports were employed to ensure stability during the installation process. The construction utilised approximately 55,250 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts with a C5 coating and elastomeric bearings, and 27,500 High-strength Friction Grip (HSFG) bolts to secure the launching nose. The bridge was assembled at a height of 14.5 metres on temporary trestles and then manoeuvred into position with the aid of semi-automatic jacks, each capable of lifting 250 tonnes.
This new bridge marks the fourth steel bridge completed out of the 28 planned for the bullet train corridor, which includes 24 river bridges—20 in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra. Notably, 10 of the 20 Gujarat bridges are already completed. Launched officially on September 14, 2017, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is overseen by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). Established on February 12, 2016, NHSRCL is responsible for financing, constructing, maintaining, and managing the high-speed rail corridor, supported by equity from the Ministry of Railways and the governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra.
This milestone underscores the ongoing progress of the project and highlights India’s advancing infrastructure capabilities, with the new bridge serving as a testament to the country’s growing expertise in high-speed rail development.
