The National High Speed Rail Corridor Limited (NHSRCL) has completed the construction of the first steel bridge of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project. The 70-metres-long bridge has been built across National Highway (NH)-53 at Gujarat’s Surat city. A total of 28 steel bridges will be erected for the Mumbai- Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.
Technical details about India’s Bullet Train first steel bridge
The length and weight of the main bridge are 70 metres and 673 metric tonnes respectively. About 673 metric tonnes of steel has been used in the Main bridge. The launching nose length and weight are 38 metres and 167 metric tonnes. The NHSRCL has estimated that around 70,000 Metric Tonnes of specified steel will be required in the making of these steel bridges. The length of these steel bridge spans varies from 60 meter ‘Simply supported’ to 130 + 100 meter ‘continuous span’.
Making of Steel Bridges
The construction of steel bridges involves cutting-edge and precise processes, including cutting, drilling, welding, and painting. All these activities are being carried out in accordance with design plans prepared by the Japanese engineers. The contractors have been mandated to employ welders and supervisors certified by International Welding Experts.
At the time of the welding process, the Japanese International Welding Experts (IWE) stationed at each workshop for monitoring. Fabricated structure undergoes a Check Assembly process. And then follows the sophisticated 5- layered painting of the steel structure. Every batch of steel production underwent Ultrasonic Testing (UT) at the manufacturer’s facility.
Assembling of Steel Bridges
The steel structure, which consists of nearly 700 pieces and 673 Metric tonnes will be ready at the workshop located at Hapur district, and will be transported on trailers to the site of installation. Thereafter, the Steel Bridge of 12 to 14 meter in height was assembled on the staging above 10- 12-meter-high piers. With massive care and expertise, the Bridge Assembly was pulled to its intended span through a specially designed pulling arrangement under the complete traffic block on National Highway.