Maharashtra Launches First Steel Bridge for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Corridor

The first steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor in Maharashtra has been launched over the Mumbai-Nashik Highway near Dive-Anjur village in Bhiwandi. The 100-meter-long structure weighs about 1,405 metric tonnes and was fabricated in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, roughly 1,300 kilometers away, then transported to Maharashtra for assembly. It was assembled about 17.5 meters above ground using temporary supports, skid arrangements and more than 54,000 high-strength bolts, then moved into place with hydraulic jacks. Steel batches underwent ultrasonic testing, and the bridge has protective coatings and elastomeric bearings for durability and vibration control. The corridor plans 28 steel bridges, 16 of which have been completed; they are used where longer spans are needed to cross highways, rivers and railway lines.
The bridge was launched during night-time traffic blocks on the highway to minimise disruption to motorists.
The bridge measures 14 metres high and 14 metres wide, in addition to its 100-metre length.
The final positioning used two hollow jacks, each rated at 150 tonnes, working with pre-tensioned Macalloy bars.
Welders and supervisors involved in fabrication were certified by international welding experts.
The project will use movable, or swing-nose, crossings at high-speed turnouts; these eliminate the rail gap found in conventional fixed crossings and are intended to support safe operation at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
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