The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project achieved another milestone with the completion of the Kaveri River bridge in Gujarat’s Navsari district. Spanning 120 metres with three full-span girders, this is the 11th of 20 river bridges in the state. It is strategically located between the Vapi and Bilimora Bullet Train stations.
Salient Features of Bridge are:
- Length: 120 metres
- Consists of 3 Full Span Girders (40 metres each)
- Height of Piers – 13 to 21 metres
- One (01) circular pier of 4 m and Three (03) circular piers of 5 m diameter
- This bridge is in between Vapi and Bilimora Bullet Train station.
- Other completed river bridge between the two stations is on Kolak, Par and Auranga River
- This river is one of the tributaries of the Ambika River, which originates from the hills of Vansda taluka in the border area of Gujarat state with the state of Maharashtra
- Kaveri river is approx. 46 kms from Vapi Bullet Train station and 4 kms from Bilimora Bullet Train station
Other completed river bridges include the bridges on Par (Valsad district), Purna (Navsari district), Mindhola (Navsari district), Ambika (Navsari district), Auranga (Valsad district), Venganiya (Navsari district), Mohar (Kheda district), Dhadhar (Vadodara district), Kolak River (Valsad district) and Vatrak River (Kheda district).
Some Recent Updates of Bullet Train Project:
The construction of the 135 km long mostly elevated section in Maharashtra is a challenging section in this high-speed rail project. This section, between Shilphata and Zaroli village near the Gujarat-Maharashtra border, will navigate through 95 villages and towns in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, covering Thane and Palghar districts.
Key Highlights of this Challenging Construction Include:
- Viaducts and Bridges: Out of the 135 km, 124 km will consist of viaducts and bridges, including 11 steel bridges.
- Mountain and Tunnels: The section will feature 7 mountain tunnels.
- Stations and Depot: Three stations—Thane, Virar, and Boisar—are planned, along with a rolling stock depot at Thane.
- Crossings: The alignment will cross over several key infrastructures, including Central and Western Railway lines, Dedicated Freight Corridor, Mumbai suburban line, and the elevated Mumbai Metro Line 5. It will also span across major highways, such as National Highway-48 and Mumbai-Agra National Highway-3.
- River Bridges: The section will have bridges over four major rivers, with the most challenging being a 460-metre steel bridge (100 + 130, 130 + 100-metre spans) over the Ulhas River, which will be the heaviest steel structure in the project (9672 MT). The longest bridge will be 2.32 km long over the Vaitarna River.
The construction progress includes the nearing completion of geotechnical investigations, the commencement of work on mountain tunnels, and the completion of approximately 265 open foundations (about 11 km) for pier work. Foundation work has also begun at Boisar and Virar stations.
As the construction of this crucial section progresses, it brings the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project one step closer to transforming travel in the region. Overcoming complex engineering challenges and navigating through densely populated areas and protected wildlife sanctuaries, this section once completed, will significantly reduce travel time, boost regional connectivity, and usher in a new era of transportation for the country.
Conclusion:
With the Kaveri River bridge completed and work progressing in Maharashtra, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project is steadily overcoming significant engineering challenges. This crucial infrastructure will soon redefine travel across regions, offering a high-speed, efficient transport system that fosters connectivity and economic growth for the future.
Source: NHSRCL – Press Release | Images Credit: NHSRCL
