The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project has reached a significant construction milestone, with 300 km of viaducts now completed, according to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL). The landmark was achieved following the launch of a 40-metre-long girder near Surat in Gujarat.
Of the 300 km of superstructure, 257.4 km was built using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM) — a technique up to ten times faster than conventional methods — including 14 river bridges. An additional 37.8 km utilised the Span-by-Span (SBS) method, while 0.9 km comprises steel bridges, 1.2 km consists of pre-stressed concrete (PSC) spans, and 2.7 km falls within station buildings.
To support the 508-km corridor, the project has also completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundation work, and 326 km of girder casting. Track work on the viaducts has commenced, with 157 km of reinforced concrete (RC) track beds already laid in Gujarat.Noise barriers exceeding three lakh units have been installed along the corridor to minimise operational sound pollution.
Twenty-seven dedicated casting yards have been set up across the route, and steel bridge components are being fabricated in workshops across Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal.Thematic bullet train stations, designed with modern passenger amenities and integrated transport systems, are progressing swiftly.
The project also showcases indigenously developed construction equipment, including straddle carriers and launching gantries.Funded at ₹1.08 lakh crore, the project is largely supported by a Japanese loan at 0.1% interest, with contributions from the Indian government (₹10,000 crore) and the states of Gujarat and Maharashtra (₹5,000 crore each).This achievement highlights India’s growing expertise in high-speed rail infrastructure, setting a new benchmark in engineering and transport modernisation.
Source: Business Standard
