The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project has achieved another construction milestone with the successful installation of all 13 heavy portal beams required for the high-speed rail corridor in Ahmedabad. The final beam, installed at Sabarmati, completes a key phase of viaduct construction over existing railway tracks.
Weighing 1,640 metric tonnes, the last portal beam is the heaviest precast concrete structure among the 13 installed in the city. It measures 34.5 metres in length and has a cross-section of 5.5 metres by 4.5 metres.
According to project officials, the beam was lifted and positioned using a 2,200-metric-tonne crawler crane, with the entire launching operation completed in around three hours. The work was carried out in close coordination with Indian Railways to ensure uninterrupted and safe train operations during the installation.
The 18-km elevated viaduct in Ahmedabad passes over several busy railway lines, making the installation of these heavy portal beams a critical component of the project. The specially designed structures are intended to support the high-speed rail viaduct while maintaining safe clearance above the existing railway network.
The portal beam launches were executed through carefully planned construction sequences, including major installation work carried out in April over the Ahmedabad-Vadodara railway corridor. The completion of the final launch marks the end of all planned heavy portal beam installations in Ahmedabad.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor spans 508 km and is being developed with technical and financial assistance from Japan. The corridor will feature 12 stations and is designed to accommodate bullet trains operating at speeds of up to 320 kmph.
The first section of the high-speed rail service is expected to become operational in August 2027, while the entire corridor is targeted for completion by 2028-29. Once operational, the project is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad while introducing India’s first dedicated high-speed rail network.
Source: Swarajya
