The first span of a 200-meter-long steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is set to be launched in March 2025, with full completion expected by August 2025.
This ‘Make in India’ bridge will be installed near Nadiad, Gujarat, on National Highway-48, a key route connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project is being executed by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
The bridge is designed with two spans of 100 meters each, a width of 14.3 meters, and a height of 14.6 meters. Weighing approximately 1,500 metric tons, it has been manufactured at the Salasar workshop in Hapur, Uttar Pradesh. Built to last 100 years, the bridge components are assembled using Tor Shear Type High Strength Bolts (TTHSB). Additionally, C-5 system painting, being introduced in India for the first time, will enhance its durability.
Steel bridges are particularly effective for highways, expressways, and railway crossings, whereas pre-stressed concrete bridges are generally preferred for river crossings and other segments. India has considerable experience in constructing steel bridges for freight and semi-high-speed trains operating at 100-160 km/h. This expertise is now being applied to the MAHSR corridor, where bullet trains will operate at 320 km/h.
A total of 28 steel bridges are planned for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, with 11 in Maharashtra and 17 in Gujarat. So far, six steel bridges have been completed in Gujarat, spanning railway tracks, dedicated freight corridors (DFC), highways, and industrial zones.
