October 13, 2025: The Ahmedabad–Mumbai Bullet Train project has achieved a major engineering milestone with the successful installation of its first 60-metre steel bridge in Ahmedabad. The structure, positioned over a Western Railway yard, was launched in just seven hours — marking a new era for India’s high-speed rail ambitions.
Officials from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said the installation required “meticulous precision and planning,” reflecting India’s growing expertise in advanced infrastructure development. Fabricated using domestically sourced high-grade steel, the bridge connects critical segments of the corridor where traditional concrete structures were not feasible.
Erecting a 60-metre span over an active railway yard demanded exceptional coordination between civil and rail teams. Engineers employed heavy-duty cranes, hydraulic systems, and digital simulations to achieve millimetre-level precision, ensuring no disruption to existing train operations. “The station premises include buildings built over the platforms and the passenger area, which are already 20–25 years old and need the necessary upkeep and repairs. We have asked CIDCO to carry them out before handing the stations over,” said a CR official.
The operation, completed within seven hours, involved push-and-slide technology that allowed the preassembled bridge to be lifted and aligned seamlessly. Officials credited weeks of rehearsal for the smooth execution, calling it “a demonstration of India’s readiness for advanced construction techniques.”
This bridge is the tenth steel span installed along the 508-km corridor, which will eventually include 28 such structures — 17 in Gujarat and 11 in Maharashtra. Each bridge is designed to accommodate trains running at 320 km/h while minimizing vibration and noise.
Adapted from Japan’s Shinkansen standards, the design incorporates seismic and aerodynamic features suitable for Indian conditions. The successful installation not only showcases precision engineering but also reinforces India’s progress toward completing its first high-speed rail network.
Source: The Times of India
