Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet train: A major construction milestone has been achieved for the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet train project with the successful completion of a 100-metre-long steel bridge in Ahmedabad district. The bridge, built entirely using domestically manufactured steel, is part of the government’s “Make in India” initiative and is the 13th steel bridge completed in Gujarat for the high-speed rail corridor.
Out of the 17 steel bridges planned in the state, most are now in advanced stages of execution. Officials said the latest structure plays a crucial role in maintaining safety and alignment in a dense urban stretch of Ahmedabad.
Redesigned structure to protect metro tunnel
Unlike standard viaduct sections used along much of the bullet train route, this stretch required a specialised design. The alignment passes over an underground metro tunnel between Kalupur and Shahpur metro stations. To prevent any structural load from affecting the metro tunnel, the bridge foundations were positioned at a safe distance.
This constraint led engineers to redesign the section. Instead of the usual span-by-span viaduct with spans of 30 to 50 metres, a steel truss bridge with a span of nearly 100 metres was adopted. The revised configuration ensures structural safety for both the bullet train corridor and the existing metro infrastructure.
Assembly, placement and technical details
The steel bridge was assembled on temporary trestles at a height of around 16.5 metres above ground. Once the assembly was completed, the temporary supports were dismantled and the structure was carefully lowered and placed on permanent supports with high precision.
Weighing 1,098 metric tonnes, the bridge runs parallel to the Ahmedabad Sabarmati main line of Western Railways. The structure stands 14 metres tall and is 15.5 metres wide. It was fabricated in Wardha, Maharashtra, and transported to Ahmedabad using specialised trailers.
To support the assembly process, a temporary platform measuring 11.5 by 100 metres was built at the site. The bridge uses more than 45,000 high-strength Tor-Shear bolts and is protected with a C5-grade painting system along with elastomeric bearings to enhance durability and long-term performance.
Officials said the completion of this bridge marks another step forward in advancing India’s first high-speed rail project, especially through challenging urban corridors.