First Steel Bridge Launched in Maharashtra for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has launched the first steel bridge in Maharashtra for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, marking another milestone in the construction of India’s first high-speed rail corridor.
The 100-metre-long steel bridge, weighing around 1,405 metric tonnes, was launched over NH-3 (Nashik Highway) at Dive-Anjur village in Bhiwandi, Thane district. The structure is 14 metres high and 14 metres wide.
The latest bridge is the first of the planned steel bridges in the Maharashtra section. Overall, 28 steel bridges are planned along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor, with 16 completed so far. Before the Maharashtra milestone, 15 steel bridges had been launched in Gujarat, making the latest structure the 16th completed steel bridge in the corridor.
A notable feature of the bridge is that it was fabricated in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, around 1,300 km from the installation site. The components were transported to Maharashtra by specially arranged trailers and assembled at the construction location.
The fabrication involved precision cutting, drilling, welding and painting in accordance with approved designs and specifications. Each batch of steel underwent Ultrasonic Testing (UT), while welders and supervisors were certified by international welding experts.
At the site, the bridge was assembled on temporary trestles approximately 17.5 metres above ground using 22 skid arrangements and 54,076 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHSB) bolts. A C5 protective painting system and elastomeric bearings were provided to improve durability and vibration control.
The completed structure was then moved into its final position using an automatic mechanism with two hollow jacks, each having a 150-tonne capacity, along with pre-tensioned Macalloy bars. The launching operation was carried out during night-time traffic blocks on the national highway to minimise disruption to commuters.
Steel bridges are being used at locations where the high-speed rail alignment has to cross highways, expressways, major rivers and railway lines, particularly where longer spans are required.
The 508-km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail corridor passes through Maharashtra, Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The project has a design speed of 350 kmph and an operational speed of 320 kmph.
As of September 2026, the project had achieved 62.16% overall physical progress, with more than 366 km of viaduct girders erected, according to an NHSRCL response cited in recent reporting.
The project is also developing domestic expertise in high-speed rail construction, including bridge fabrication, viaduct construction, tunnelling, track systems and other specialised infrastructure.