Bullet train project marks major progress with beam completion in Vadodara
New Delhi, October 12: As part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, the construction of all 14 portal beams over the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Railway Line in Vadodara, Gujarat, has been completed. This paves the way for installing 40-meter-long composite girders over this busy railway line and proceeding with the construction of the bullet train’s elevated corridor.
According to the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), this achievement in Vadodara is significant towards connecting the bullet train corridor to the existing railway network. The bullet train route in this section passes under existing railway lines and through a densely populated urban area, making construction technically challenging.
The relevant portion of the bullet train corridor in Vadodara is approximately 8.3 kilometers long. This section serves five Indian Railways rail lines, including two main lines. The bullet train’s route diagonally crosses the Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani main line, necessitating the construction of special structures.
Of the 14 portal beams constructed above the Rajdhani line, 10 are located on the Surat side between the Vadodara bullet train station and Vishwamitri railway station, while four are located on the Ahmedabad side between the Vadodara railway station and Chhayapuri railway station.
These portal beams will support the superstructure of the bullet train’s elevated route. Composite girders approximately 40 meters long will be installed on these 14 beams above the Rajdhani line. Span-by-span (SBS) technology will be used to extend the structure at other portal beam locations. Given the
limited space above the railway lines and ongoing train operations, these portal beams were constructed using on-site concrete. Each beam weighs approximately 1,500 tons upon completion. Its height and width are approximately four meters each, and its length is approximately 37 meters. Each beam used approximately 590 cubic meters of concrete and approximately 55 tons of steel rebar.
High-capacity cranes, hydraulic jacks, long-reach concrete pumps, and precision surveying equipment were used to construct these massive structures. Because the work occurred above railway lines, careful planning of various stages of construction, coordination with Indian Railways, and the suspension of rail operations for specific periods of time as needed were necessary.
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