Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s 100-Meter ‘Bahubali’ Steel Bridge Completed in Ahmedabad; 4 Bridges Remain

Ahmedabad: The pace of India’s first bullet train project is picking up rapidly as Gujarat achieves another major milestone. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has successfully installed a 100-meter-long steel bridge in Ahmedabad, weighing 1,098 metric tons. Constructed under the Make in India initiative, this massive structure posed a significant engineering challenge as it had to be positioned 16.5 meters above the ground.

The Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train corridor is progressing swiftly following the official announcement of the train’s operational date. NHSRCL confirmed that this bridge, constructed above an underground metro tunnel connecting Kalupur and Shahpur stations, is the 13th steel bridge completed out of the 17 planned in Gujarat.

Bridge Redesigned for Safety
The viaduct in Ahmedabad uses span-by-span structures ranging from 30 to 50 meters. To prevent any load transfer from the bullet train corridor to the metro tunnel below, the foundation was placed at a safe distance, necessitating the extension of the span to 100 meters. Consequently, the original SBS viaduct design was redesigned into a steel truss bridge, ensuring structural safety for both the bullet train corridor and the metro infrastructure.

High-Precision Installation
The steel bridge was first assembled on temporary trusses 16.5 meters above the ground. Once assembled, the temporary supports were carefully removed, and the bridge was lowered onto its permanent support system, ensuring precise alignment and maximum safety. With a height of 14 meters and a width of 15.5 meters, this bridge runs parallel to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Sabarmati main line. Fabricated in a workshop in Wardha, Maharashtra, it was transported to the site on specialized trailers.

Work on overhead electrification between Surat and Bilimora is ongoing, and this section is expected to see the first operational bullet trains. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has confirmed that the Mumbai–Ahmedabad bullet train is scheduled to start operations on 15 August 2027.