The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has reached a key milestone with the successful completion of a 210-meter-long Pre-stressed Concrete (PSC) bridge crossing National Highway-48 (NH-48) at Vaghaldhara village near Panchlai in Gujarat. The bridge was completed on January 2, 2025, marking significant progress in the development of the high-speed rail corridor.
Construction Details and Methodology
The bridge spans across NH-48, a crucial route connecting Delhi and Chennai, and features 72 precast segments arranged in a span configuration of 40m + 65m + 65m + 40m. The Balanced Cantilever Method was employed for its construction, an ideal technique for handling larger spans and ensuring structural stability.
This new bridge is strategically located between the Vapi and Bilimora Bullet Train stations. Notably, two other PSC bridges have already been completed in Navsari district, situated between Surat and Bilimora stations, spanning 260 meters and 210 meters respectively. The Vaghaldhara bridge serves as another key infrastructure piece for the Bullet Train project, which is designed to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
Safety and Traffic Management
Given the location of the bridge on NH-48, one of India’s busiest highways, construction was planned with utmost attention to safety. To ensure minimal disruption to both highway traffic and construction activities, additional lanes were constructed on both sides of the highway. These lanes prevented vehicles from passing beneath suspended loads or within the one-meter shadow margin during the bridge’s construction.
Furthermore, a phased traffic diversion plan was implemented, which was continuously monitored to avoid any major disruptions to the flow of vehicles along NH-48.