The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has marked a major milestone in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project by completing the construction of a 160-metre bridge over the Kolak River in Gujarat’s Valsad district. This achievement brings the total number of completed river bridges along the high-speed rail corridor to nine out of the planned 24.
The newly constructed Kolak River bridge, located between the Vapi and Bilimora stations, features four full-span girders, each measuring 40 metres. The Kolak River originates from the Saputara hills near Valveri and flows into the Arabian Sea, positioned seven kilometres from Vapi and 43 kilometres from Bilimora railway stations. Out of the 24 river bridges designated for the bullet train corridor, 20 are situated in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. The first river bridge, spanning 320 metres, was completed in January 2023 over the Par River between Vapi and Bilimora stations in Valsad district, Gujarat. Additional completed bridges include those over the Par and Auranga rivers in Valsad, and the Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, and Venganiya rivers in Navsari. Other completed bridges span the Mohar in Kheda and the Dhadhar in the Vadodara region, while construction continues on bridges over the Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, and Sabarmati rivers.
The 508-kilometre Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor will feature 12 stations, with eight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. The stations in Gujarat will be located at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, and Vapi. Maharashtra will host stations at Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai. The NHSRCL reports rapid progress in station construction, with foundation work completed for all eight stations in Gujarat and superstructure construction at an advanced stage. These stations will be equipped with modern amenities and some will serve as transport hubs, integrating various modes of transportation such as autos, buses, and taxis for seamless connectivity.
As of 2 July, all civil contracts for the project have been awarded. The NHSRCL has completed 190 kilometres of viaduct and 321 kilometres of pier work. Land acquisition for the project has been finalised in Gujarat, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Maharashtra, according to an ANI report. Significantly, the NHSRCL has also completed the first mountain tunnel, measuring 350 metres near Zaroli village in Valsad, and commenced work on India’s first 7-kilometre undersea rail tunnel. This tunnel is part of a 21-kilometre section between BKC and Shilphata in Maharashtra. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project was officially launched on 14 September 2017 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. The 508-kilometre journey is expected to be completed in three to three-and-a-half hours. The government aims to operationalise the bullet train’s first phase between Surat and Bilimora in South Gujarat by 2026, with full project completion targeted for 2028. The bullet train is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to three hours, revolutionising intercity travel in India.
