Mumbai-Ahmedabad Rail Project Achieves Major Steel Bridge Launch over NH-48

A significant milestone has been achieved in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project with the successful launch of the first 100-meter span of a twin steel bridge over National Highway 48 near Nadiad, Gujarat. This key development underscores the engineering excellence and meticulous planning driving India’s Bullet Train corridor.

The steel span, one of two planned for this location, was launched over one carriageway of NH-48—one of India’s busiest six-lane highways connecting Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai. Measuring 14.6 meters in height, 14.3 meters in width, and weighing approximately 1,414 tonnes, the bridge was slid into position over 200 meters using a semi-automatic mechanism, with operations carefully timed to minimize traffic disruption.

Fabricated in Salasar, near Hapur in Uttar Pradesh, the structure incorporates 57,200 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts, a high-durability C5 protective paint system, elastomeric bearings, and is designed for a service life of 100 years. The bridge was assembled on temporary trestles at a height of 14.9 meters, utilizing semi-automatic jacks and Macalloy bars for precision placement.

This span is the first of two 100-meter steel bridge sections to be launched across NH-48 in Gujarat. In total, 28 steel bridges are planned along the MAHSR corridor—11 in Maharashtra and 17 in Gujarat. Of these, seven have already been successfully launched in Gujarat over railways, highways, and industrial zones.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.