Rail Welding Begins for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project

11 Dec 2024 CW Team

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has commenced rail welding operations for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project in Gujarat, marking a critical milestone before track laying begins on the 508-kilometer route designed for speeds of 320 km/h. The project uses 25-meter-long rails imported from Japan, which are fused into 200-meter panels using advanced flash butt welding technology. NHSRCL has already produced 298 panels, equating to around 60 kilometers of track. The process includes grinding rail ends, aligning them for precise fusion, and performing rigorous inspections using magnetic particle and ultrasonic testing to ensure weld integrity. Specialised Japanese rail tread measuring equipment verifies alignment, and 200-meter panels are transported along the route using a rail feeder car for installation. The rails are then secured to track slabs using fasteners. Four track construction bases operate in Gujarat, with two between Surat and Bilimora and two between Vadodara and Anand. So far, 64 kilometers of reinforced concrete track bed has been completed, with over 23,000 slabs cast at facilities in Kim and Anand, covering 118 kilometers of track. The bullet train route, which is 90% elevated, will feature 12 stations, including Mumbai, Thane, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati. The Bandra Kurla Complex station in Mumbai will be the only underground facility. Initially launched in 2017 with an estimated cost of Rs 1080 billion and a completion target of December 2023, the project faced delays due to land acquisition hurdles in Maharashtra and the Covid-19 pandemic. NHSRCL now aims to complete the entire route by late 2028, with the Gujarat section potentially opening in 2027. Once operational, the bullet train will slash travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to three hours, significantly faster than the current Vande Bharat Express, which takes about five and a half hours. (Hindustan Times)

Infrastructure Transport

15 Oct 2025

BMC Gets CRZ Nod For Rs 40 Million Gorai Bridge Rebuild

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has secured Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the reconstruction of the Poisar River bridge in Gorai, located in Mumbai’s western suburbs. However, the proposed demolition of the existing 100-metre bridge has sparked opposition from local residents, who claim it serves as the only direct access route between the Lower and Upper Koliwada areas. The three-decade-old bridge, situated within the CRZ buffer zone, was recently declared structurally unsafe following a civic audit. The BMC has sanctioned its reconstruction at an estimated cost ..

NHAI Completes Rs 15.9 Billion Four-Lane Stretch On ECR

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has completed the four-laning of the 38 km Puducherry–Poondiyankuppam stretch, ending near Cuddalore, in a development that will cut travel time by up to two hours, according to a report by The New Indian Express. The upgraded section, built at a cost of Rs 15.9 billion under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I, marks a major milestone in the ongoing East Coast Road (ECR) widening programme. The project promises a smoother, faster drive for motorists travelling towards Cuddalore, Chidambaram, Sirkazhi, and Nagapattinam. With this completion, 22..

Encroachments Delay Rs 1 Billion Ghatkopar Bridge Project

The construction of a new cable-stayed rail overbridge at Ghatkopar and the widening of the Andheri–Ghatkopar Link Road (AGLR) have been delayed due to the presence of nearly 250 encroached structures on both sides of the road. In response, Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has directed officials to carry out a structural audit of the existing bridge over the railway line and enforce temporary restrictions on heavy vehicles to ensure public safety. The bridge, which starts at the Golibar Road junction near LBS Marg and extends up to the Eastern Express Highway (EEH), serves as a critic..