NHSRCL is constructing a 36-meter-high, 480-meter-long bridge—equivalent to a 12-storey building over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad. Several advanced construction techniques are being used for this bridge like the Balanced Cantilever Method. This infrastructure development aligns with India’s goal of building advanced and sustainable high-speed rail infrastructure.

Introduction:

NHSRCL is advancing rapidly in the construction process for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project; a 36-meter-tall bridge is under construction. The 480 meters long bridge is being built besides Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Delhi main line. It is one of the advanced engineering infrastructure in the Bullet train corridor.

Strategic Design & Engineering Precision:

The bridge is strategically designed to accommodate mandatory vertical clearances of 5.5 meters, as mandated by Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines, while coexisting with existing infrastructure like flyovers, metro lines, and rail routes.

It consists of eight circular piers, each ranging between 6 to 6.5 meters in diameter. Out of eight pillars, four are situated within the riverbed, two are on riverbanks, and two after the banks. This placement reduces disruption to the river’s natural flow.

Unlike typical river bridges in the corridor that have 40-meter spans, this bridge uses five spans of 76 meters and two spans of 50 meters—a design adopted to minimise the number of piers in the waterway.

Innovative Construction Technique: Balanced Cantilever Method:

The bridge is being constructed using the Balanced Cantilever Method, an advanced technique used for long-span bridges over water. This method avoids the use of scaffolding underneath by sequentially casting 23 segments per span and joining them via post-tensioning. It balances the structure on both sides of each pier, creating a stable and continuous bridge deck.

Commitment to Safety:

To ensure maximum safety, NHSRCL has implemented a structured work permit system with mandatory Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including full-body harnesses for all workers. Catch nets are placed under the form traveler equipment to prevent fall-related accidents, and CCTV surveillance ensures real-time monitoring of construction activities.

Construction Progress:

All foundation and substructure work has been completed. Superstructure activities such as pier head construction and segment casting are currently ongoing. The bridge is located approximately 1 km from Sabarmati Bullet Train Station and 4 km from Ahmedabad Bullet Train Station.

Salient Features of the Bridge:

Broader Corridor Progress:

Out of the 25 river bridges in the MAHSR corridor, 21 are located in Gujarat, and 16 have already been completed on major rivers including Par, Mindhola, Kaveri, and Daman Ganga.

Conclusion:

The construction of the bridge over the Sabarmati river underscores NHSRCL’s commitment towards building advanced and sustainable infrastructure for the MAHSR corridor. By blending advanced techniques with the strategic planning NHSRCL is reinforcing high speed rail infrastructure development in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor.

Source: NHSRCL – Press Release | Images Credit: NHSRCL

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