9th Steel Bridge Complete for India's First Bullet Train Project

The second 100-metre span of a 2×100 m steel bridge has been successfully launched over NH-48 near Nadiad, Gujarat, as part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project. This marks the completion of the ninth steel bridge out of 17 planned in Gujarat, a significant milestone in India’s first bullet train corridor.

Officials confirmed that the first 100-m span of this bridge was launched in April 2025. The structure consists of two spans weighing a total of approximately 2,884 tonnes, standing 14.6 metres tall and 14.3 metres wide. The bridge was fabricated in Salasar, near Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, and is designed for a 100-year lifespan.

To minimise disruption on the busy six-lane NH-48, the second span was launched across three lanes using a sliding method, supported by robust traffic management measures.

Key technical features of the 200-metre bridge include:

Use of 1,14,172 Tor-Shear Type High Strength bolts, C5-grade corrosion-resistant painting system, Elastomeric bearings for structural flexibility, Assembly on temporary trestles at a height of 14.9 metres, Launching using a semi-automatic system with two 250-tonne jacks and mac-alloy bars

Across the MAHSR corridor, a total of 28 steel bridges are planned—17 in Gujarat and 11 in Maharashtra—to navigate existing infrastructure such as highways, rail lines, and water bodies.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.