The Ahmedabad–Mumbai bullet train project is progressing with the development of its power supply network, as 14 traction substations are being set up along the 508-kilometre corridor. Of these facilities, nine will be located in Gujarat and five in Maharashtra, according to a report by Gujarat Samachar – Ahmedabad.
The substations will draw electricity from the grid and convert it into the high-voltage supply required to operate high-speed trains. Together, they will support a continuous power network along the route connecting key urban and industrial centres in both states.
In Gujarat, the facilities are planned at Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Mahemdavad, Ahmedabad and the Sabarmati depot. Maharashtra’s five locations include Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar and the Thane depot. These installations will supply electricity to the overhead equipment along the bullet train alignment.
The Bilimora traction substation in Navsari district is among the most advanced, with construction nearing completion. Spread across approximately 18,000 square metres, the facility has been equipped with control panels, changeover switches, transformers and circuit breakers. Gantry towers and beams have also been installed.
Testing and commissioning activities are currently under way at the Bilimora site to assess the equipment before it becomes part of the larger power network. However, no specific commissioning date has been announced.
In Gujarat, electricity will be sourced from the 220-kilovolt Ambetha grid substation operated by Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited (GETCO). It will then be distributed through a 2 x 25 kV traction power system to the overhead equipment.
The entire network is expected to be monitored in real time through a centralised control centre, enabling coordination between grid supply, substations and train operations.
The power infrastructure forms a crucial component of the wider project, alongside viaducts, stations, depots and signalling systems. The next major step involves completing the Bilimora facility’s testing and integrating the remaining substations with the corridor’s electrical network.
Source: Urban Acres
