The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has achieved another major construction milestone with the successful installation of a 45-metre-long viaduct span above Ahmedabad’s busy Kalupur Flyover, marking significant progress on India’s first high-speed rail corridor.
The newly launched structure forms part of the elevated alignment running parallel to the existing Mumbai-Sabarmati railway route operated by Western Railway. The span was successfully erected on May 25, adding a crucial link to the Ahmedabad section of the project.
Located above the heavily used Kalupur Flyover, which connects key areas such as Shahibaug, Asarwa and Kalupur, the construction posed considerable engineering and logistical challenges. To minimise disruption to traffic while ensuring safe execution, project teams adopted the Span-by-Span (SBS) construction method.
The viaduct span measures 45 metres in length and stands approximately 19.5 metres above ground level. Built using 19 precast segments, the structure weighs nearly 1,200 tonnes, underscoring the scale and complexity of the work involved.
Construction activities were carried out over three nights between May 22 and May 25 after obtaining permission from the Ahmedabad Traffic Department for temporary nighttime traffic restrictions. Entry and exit points within the work zone were closed between midnight and 6 a.m., allowing engineers to undertake critical operations such as transporting precast segments, auto-launching, span erection, dry matching, gluing and final assembly.
Despite the challenges, the entire exercise was completed within the planned timeframe, enabling normal traffic movement to continue during daytime hours.
To minimise inconvenience to commuters, authorities implemented several traffic management measures, including barricading, diversion signage, advance route advisories, deployment of traffic marshals and enhanced lighting arrangements around the construction site.
The Ahmedabad stretch of the bullet train corridor involves 31 major crossings, including railway lines, canals, roads, flyovers, underpasses and the Sabarmati River. Project officials said construction has already been completed at 23 of these locations.
The successful launch of the Kalupur Flyover viaduct represents another important step forward for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, which continues to advance towards becoming India’s first operational high-speed rail network.
Source: News18
