The Bullet Train project continues to achieve new milestones each day, recently NHSRCL completed another 100-metre-long steel bridge in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.
More Details:
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project continues to make significant progress, with the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) recently completing a 100-metre-long steel bridge in Silvassa, Dadra and Nagar Haveli. This new milestone showcases the use of domestically manufactured materials, supporting the “Make in India” initiative and boosting local industry and infrastructure development.
Image Credit (representational): NHSRCL
Key Features and Challenges of the Steel Bridge:
- The steel bridge, weighing 1,464 metric tonnes (MT) and measuring 14.6 metres in height and 14.3 metres in width, was fabricated at a workshop in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, and transported to the site in Silvassa for installation.
- A temporary launching nose, spanning 84 metres and weighing 600 MT, was connected to the main bridge for the installation process, eliminating the need for intermediate supports.
- To strengthen the bridge during the launching process, additional temporary members were installed.
- The construction required 27,500 High-Strength Friction Grip (HSFG) bolts for the launching nose and approximately 55,250 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts with C5 system painting and elastomeric bearings for the main bridge.
- The steel bridge and the launching nose were assembled on-site at a height of 14.5 metres from the ground using temporary trestles. They were launched into position using an automatic mechanism with two semi-automatic jacks, each with a capacity of 250 tonnes, and Mac-Alloy bars.
Image Credit: NHSRCL
This is the fourth out of the 28 steel bridges, completed for the Bullet Train corridor. The details are as follows:
| Number | Location | Date of launching | Length of the steel bridge | Weight of the steel bridge |
| 1 | Across National Highway 53, Surat, Gujarat | 03/10/2023 | 70 m | 673 MT |
| 2 | Over Vadodara-Ahmedabad main line of Indian Railways, near Nadiad, Gujarat | 14/04/2024 | 100 m | 1486 MT |
| 3 | Over Delhi-Mumbai National Expressway, near Vadodara, Gujarat | 23/06/2024 | 130 m | 3000 MT |
| 4 | Near Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli | 25/08/2024 | 100 m | 1464 MT |
Conclusion:
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is being executed with meticulous attention to detail, maintaining high standards of safety and engineering excellence. While leveraging Japanese expertise, India is increasingly utilising its own technical skills and materials under the “Make in India” initiative. The completion of this steel bridge is a testament to the project’s commitment to integrating local resources and fostering domestic industry growth.
Source: NHSRCL – Press Release | Featured Image Credit: NHSRCL
