India’s first high-speed rail corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has reached a significant construction milestone with the completion of 300 km of viaducts, out of a total alignment of approximately 508 km. The achievement was marked by the launch of a 40-metre-long full-span box girder near Surat, Gujarat.
According to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the viaduct length is 465 km, of which nearly 65% is now complete. Of the 300 km of superstructure, 257.4 km was built using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM), including 14 river bridges. An additional 37.8 km was constructed using the Span-by-Span (SBS) method, alongside steel and PSC bridges, and viaducts within station buildings.
The FSLM approach, considered up to ten times faster than conventional segmental construction, involves the erection of full-span box girders weighing 970 metric tonnes. A total of 6,455 spans for FSLM and 925 spans for SBS have been installed. Equipment such as Straddle Carriers, Launching Gantries, Bridge Gantries, and Girder Transporters—designed and manufactured indigenously—have been instrumental in the process, highlighting India’s engineering advancement, supported by Japanese expertise.
To streamline construction, 27 casting yards have been established along the route. Steel bridge components are being fabricated in workshops across India, including in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, demonstrating the nation’s collaborative spirit.
Additionally, over 3 lakh noise barriers have been installed. The project has also completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundation work, and 326 km of girder casting. Thematic stations integrated with rail and road transport are rapidly progressing, while 157 km of track bed has been laid in Gujarat. Modern depots are under development in both states, reinforcing the project’s alignment with the “Make in India” initiative.
Source: The Free Press Journal
