New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): In a major achievement for India’s high-speed rail infrastructure, MG Contractors Pvt. Ltd. (MGCPL) successfully completed the construction of a 210-meter-long balanced cantilever (CLC) bridge under Package P1(B) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Bullet Train project. This milestone marks a significant step in the development of India’s first bullet train corridor.
The 4-span Pre-Stressed Concrete (PSC) bridge, located at Vaghaldhara village near Panchlai in Gujarat’s Valsad district, spans National Highway NH-48. It features a configuration of 40m + 65m + 65m + 40m, and its 72 segments, cast offsite, were launched one-by-one to ensure uninterrupted vehicular traffic on the busy highway.
Strategic Location and Key Specifications
The completed bridge sits between the Vapi and Bilimora Bullet Train stations, providing critical infrastructure for the MAHSR project’s 508.17 km stretch. The bridge’s design and construction, adhering to stringent safety and engineering standards, are crucial for the smooth operation of the high-speed rail system. The layout of the bridge was carefully planned to allow for smooth and continuous construction while minimizing disruption to the surrounding areas.
Part of a Larger Infrastructure Push
The contract for this bridge and others in the area was awarded to MGCPL by India’s National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL) in 2021 as part of a larger Rs. 549 crore package. MGCPL's scope includes building 4 PSC bridges and 7 steel truss bridges within Larsen & Toubro’s Package C4, which covers a stretch of 237.1 km from Vadodara to Zaroli village at the Gujarat-Maharashtra border.
The Vaghaldhara bridge is the third box-segmental cantilever bridge constructed over NH-48 as part of the MAHSR project, following two earlier bridges in Navsari district. The first bridge, a 260m PSC structure at Amadpore, was completed in August 2024, and the second, a 210m PSC bridge at Sasodra, followed in October 2024.
Ongoing Progress and Future Milestones
This new bridge is part of the ongoing construction efforts to build five such PSC cantilever bridges across the MAHSR route. The successful completion of these structures represents a significant leap toward completing the entire corridor, which will drastically cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, offering a world-class transportation experience.
As the MAHSR project moves forward, the completion of 3 PSC bridges and 2 open-web girder (OWG) bridges within Package P1(B) is a clear indicator of the steady progress. Other significant completed structures include the GAD-1134 OWG bridge near Surat and the GAD-68 OWG bridge near Silvassa.
Looking Ahead
With these engineering feats, the MAHSR project is on track to reshape India’s high-speed rail network, positioning the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor as a model for the country’s future transportation infrastructure. This bridge’s completion paves the way for more such engineering marvels, bringing India closer to a transformative high-speed rail era.