First 100m Steel Span launched over NH-48 in Gujarat for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): India’s first Bullet Train project continues to achieve key engineering milestones with the successful launch of the first 100-meter steel span over National Highway 48 near Nadiad, Gujarat. This span is part of a 2 x 100 m long steel bridge being constructed for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor, under the ‘Make in India’ initiative.

The newly launched span, weighing around 1,414 metric tons and measuring 14.6 meters in height and 14.3 meters in width, was slid 200 meters across the six-lane NH-48 — one of India’s busiest highways — with minimal traffic disruption. The operation was executed using two semi-automatic jacks (each with a 250-ton lifting capacity) and supported by mac-alloy bars.

Fabricated at Salasar near Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, the bridge is designed for a 100-year lifespan and constructed using 57,200 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts. It features C5-grade protective painting and elastomeric bearings, and was assembled on trestles 14.9 meters above ground.

This bridge is one of 28 planned steel structures along the corridor — 17 in Gujarat and 11 in Maharashtra. To date, seven steel bridges have been launched in Gujarat, spanning over railways, highways, and industrial corridors.

Bullet Train Project Progress Report

• Viaduct Construction: 293 km completed

• Pier Works: 375 km

• Pier Foundations: 394 km

• Girder Casting: 320 km

• Track Bed Construction: 143 km completed

• Noise Barriers: 3 lakh installed over 150 km in Gujarat

• OHE Mast Installation: 100+ masts installed between Surat and Bilimora (2 km stretch)

River Bridges Completed (14 in total):

Par, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Auranga, Venganiya, Mohar, Dhadhar, Kolak, Vatrak, Kaveri, Kharera, Meshwa, and Kim.

Bridges:

• Steel Bridges: 7 completed

• PSC (Pre-Stressed Concrete) Bridges: 5 completed

Tunnel & Station Works:

• 21 km Mumbai–Shilphata Tunnel: 3.3 km excavated using NATM

• Vikhroli & Sawli Shafts: Reached 56m and 39m depths respectively

• Mountain Tunnels in Palghar, Maharashtra: 7 under construction using NATM

• Gujarat Stations: Structural work complete at 6 out of 8 stations

• Elevated Stations: All 3 under construction

• Mumbai Station Excavation: 75% of 18.7 lakh m³ completed

• Base Slab Concrete Poured: 25,000 m³ of 200,000 m³ total

• Secant Piling at Mumbai Station: 100% completed (3,384 piles)

The project continues to push ahead at record pace, with advanced civil engineering techniques ensuring timely progress across both Gujarat and Maharashtra.

The 508 km (Gujarat & DNH: 352 km, Maharashtra: 156 km) Mumbai-Ahmedabd High Speed Bullet Train Corridor will have a total of 12 stations at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.