Construction on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project has moved forward in Gujarat with the launch of a major steel span over National Highway-64.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train project: 130m span launched
Photo: NHSRCL

A 130-metre section of a continuous steel bridge has been pushed into position across NH-64 and the Bharuch–Dahej freight rail line of Indian Railways near Kanthariya village in Bharuch district, as reported by ETInfra. The crossing sits on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) and is part of India’s first bullet train route.

Don’t miss…Union Pacific Casa Grande Yard expansion doubles capacity

This bridge is being built as a 230-metre-long continuous steel structure with two spans—130 metres and 100 metres. The 130-metre span was launched on 9 December 2025, and the 100-metre span is still in progress.

Engineering feat over live corridors

The launched steel section runs about 18 metres above ground and measures 14.9 metres in width, with a weight of around 2,780 metric tons. It was fabricated at a specialised workshop in Bhuj, Gujarat, and is designed for a 100-year service life, as detailed by RailAnalysis.

In terms of build details, the structure uses approximately 1,22,146 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts. It also includes advanced C5 system painting for corrosion protection and metallic bearings to support stability under high-speed operation.

For the launch itself, the bridge was first assembled on temporary trestles at nearly 14 metres. It was then pushed forward in controlled increments using two semi-automatic jacks—each with a 250-ton lifting capacity—supported by high-strength mac-alloy bars.

Precision planning and minimal disruption

The full launching operation was completed within 12 hours. Over that period, intermittent blocks were imposed on the Bharuch–Dahej freight rail line, and controlled traffic diversions were implemented on NH-64.

Project authorities said the work was staged in phases to keep the site safe, avoid extended disruption, and maintain freight movement while limiting inconvenience to road users.

MAHSR corridor progress and completed steel bridges

This steel bridge launch adds to the wider construction record on the 508-kilometre MAHSR corridor. As of 30 November 2025, the project reported 406 kilometres of pier work completed and 330 kilometres of viaduct construction finished out of 508 kilometres. It also recorded 3,500 overhead equipment masts erected across 80 route kilometres, reinforced concrete track bed completed for 250 kilometres, and more than 4.5 lakh noise barriers installed across 231 kilometres; a broader progress snapshot has also been tracked by Railway Supply.

Under the “Completed Works” category, 17 river bridges and 11 steel bridges are listed as delivered. The completed steel bridges include a 70-metre span across National Highway 53 in Surat (673 MT); a 100-metre bridge over the Vadodara–Ahmedabad main line of Indian Railways near Nadiad (1486 MT); and a 230-metre structure over the Delhi–Mumbai National Expressway near Vadodara (130 + 100) weighing 4397 MT.

The list also includes a 100-metre steel bridge near Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli (1464 MT), a 60-metre bridge over Western Railways in Vadodara (645 MT), and bridges over DFCC and Western Railways tracks in Surat (100 and 60 metres, 2040 MT). Other entries cover a 70-metre bridge over two DFCC tracks near Vadodara (674 MT), a 100-metre bridge over DFCC tracks near Bharuch (1400 MT), two 100-metre spans over NH-48 near Nadiad (2884 MT), a 60-metre bridge over a railway facility (laundry) in Ahmedabad (485 MT), and a 70-metre bridge over the Cadilla Flyover in Ahmedabad (670 MT). The NH-64 and Bharuch–Dahej freight line crossing in Bharuch is listed with Span 1 (130 m, 2780 MT) completed and Span 2 (100 m) in progress.

Tunnel work is advancing as well, with excavation underway on seven mountain tunnels in Palghar district, Maharashtra. On the underground stretch between Bandra Kurla Complex and Shilphata, 5 kilometres of tunnel excavation have been completed using NATM (New Austrian Tunnelling Method) out of a total 21-kilometre section.

Once operational, the route is expected to reshape intercity travel. Current travel times of 6 to 7 hours by road and 4 to 5 hours by conventional rail are projected to reduce to about two hours, with anticipated benefits tied to business connectivity, tourism across Surat, Vadodara and Ahmedabad, investment around stations, employment generation, and stronger economic integration between Gujarat and Maharashtra.

With a 130-metre steel bridge span now launched over NH-64, the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor continues to take shape through a series of viaduct, bridge and tunnel milestones, as the MAHSR programme moves closer to completion.

News on railway transport, industry, and railway technologies from Railway Supply that you might have missed:

Don’t miss…Tunnel boring machine retrieval starts for Sydney Metro West

Find the latest news of the railway industry in Eastern Europe, the former Soviet Union and the rest of the world on our page on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, read Railway Supply magazine online.

Place your ads on webportal and in Railway Supply magazine. Detailed information is in Railway Supply media kit