100-Metre ‘Bahubali’ Steel Bridge Completed in Ahmedabad for Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

Ahmedabad:
The construction of India’s first high-speed rail corridor has achieved another major milestone with the successful installation of a massive 100-metre-long steel bridge in Ahmedabad district, officials of the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said on Thursday.

Built under the Make in India initiative, the giant structure — often referred to as the project’s “Bahubali” steel bridge — weighs approximately 1,098 metric tonnes and has been installed at a height of over 16 metres, making it one of the most challenging engineering feats of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.

According to NHSRCL, this bridge is the 13th steel bridge completed in Gujarat out of a total of 17 steel bridges planned in the state for the high-speed corridor.

Redesigned to Protect Metro Infrastructure

The bridge has been constructed above an underground metro tunnel located between Kalupur and Shahpur Metro stations in Ahmedabad. Since no structural load could be allowed to transfer onto the metro tunnel, the bullet train viaduct foundation was positioned at a considerable distance from it.

To meet this requirement, engineers increased the span length to nearly 100 metres. As a result, the original Superstructure by Span (SBS) viaduct design was re-engineered into a steel truss bridge, ensuring complete structural safety for both the bullet train corridor and the metro infrastructure below.

Complex Installation Process

The steel bridge was assembled on-site on temporary trusses at a height of 16.5 metres above ground level. After completion of the assembly, the temporary supports were carefully dismantled, and the bridge was precisely lowered and placed onto the permanent support system, maintaining strict safety and alignment standards.

The structure stands 14 metres high and 15.5 metres wide, running parallel to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Sabarmati main line. The bridge components were fabricated at a workshop in Wardha, Maharashtra, and transported to the site using heavy-duty trailers.

Project Progress and Timeline

NHSRCL officials stated that overhead electrification (OHE) work is currently underway between Surat and Bilimora, the section where India’s first bullet train services are expected to commence.

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced August 15, 2027, as the targeted date for the launch of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train, marking a historic step in India’s high-speed rail journey.

The completion of the Ahmedabad steel bridge significantly strengthens momentum for the ambitious project, symbolizing India’s advancing capabilities in world-class infrastructure and complex engineering execution.