Construction is moving swiftly on a temporary access bridge over the Vaitarna River in Maharashtra, a crucial component of India’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project. Stretching approximately 2.32 kilometers, this bridge, situated across the Nashik and Palghar districts, will be the longest river crossing along the entire high-speed rail route. Its completion is essential for facilitating the smooth movement of logistics and equipment, playing a vital role in the project’s overall progress.
The temporary bridge is expected to provide a strategic pathway for heavy machinery and construction materials, accelerating the development of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, which will be India’s first high-speed rail system. Once operational, the bullet train will drastically reduce the travel time between the two major cities, cutting the journey down to just three hours.
Meanwhile, significant advancements are also being made on the Gujarat side of the project. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the body overseeing the construction of the corridor, is progressing rapidly on 11 of the 20 planned river bridges in the state. Among the most challenging structures under development is a 1.4-kilometer bridge over the Narmada River, located between Surat and Bharuch railway stations. To expedite construction, NHSRCL is utilising an innovative approach, launching girders from both ends of the structure simultaneously.
The Narmada bridge, one of the largest on the route, features 25 circular piers with deep well foundations, some reaching depths of over 70 meters. Notably, four of these piers will exceed the height of the iconic Qutub Minar in Delhi, highlighting the engineering complexities involved in this project. The sheer scale of this bridge underscores the monumental effort being made to ensure the successful completion of India’s first bullet train corridor.
Gujarat’s importance in the project is evident, as the state hosts 20 of the 24 river crossings along the bullet train route. NHSRCL has already completed several key river bridges in Gujarat, including those over the Kaveri, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, and Venganiya rivers in Navsari district, as well as the Kolak, Par, and Auranga rivers in Valsad district. Each completed bridge marks a significant milestone in the overall construction timeline.
The 508-kilometer Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor will feature 12 stations—eight in Gujarat and four in Maharashtra. In Gujarat, stations will be located at Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, and Vapi. In Maharashtra, stations are planned for Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai. These stations are expected to serve as major transit hubs, further enhancing connectivity between the two states.
As the project moves forward, the Indian government has set ambitious timelines for its completion. The first operational phase of the bullet train, covering the Surat to Bilimora section in South Gujarat, is slated for 2026. This initial stretch will give commuters their first experience of high-speed rail travel in India. The NHSRCL aims to complete the entire bullet train project by 2028, revolutionising travel between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
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