India’s first Bullet Train project gains pace as over 100 km of piers completed in Maharashtra

The first bullet train corridor in India is rapidly taking shape in Maharashtra, with substantial advances made in the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR), in areas of Thane and Palghar districts.

Union Railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday provided an update on the project, detailing work on the 135.45 km high speed elevated line from Shilphata, in Thane district, to Zaroli village adjacent to the Maharashtra-Gujarat border.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Ltd (NHSRCL) said that over 100 km of pier construction has been finished to the section. Almost 74 km of piers are also prepared for installing the viaduct girders.

The project features very high proportion of viaduct and bridge construction; approximately 124.027 km of the total MAHSR corridor is elevated.

At present, three elevated stations for the Bullet train are being made in Maharashtra at Thane, Virar and Boisar. The station has been built at a 12 metre level above ground with a concourse, to reduce the impact of the project into the surrounding and sensitive mangrove environment.

Nine casting yards, seven full span launching gantries and eight segmental launching gantries are spreading across Maharashtra to support the construction activities.

The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail is anticipated to greatly enhance the links between the two financial epicentres and to bring high-speed rail service to Indian rail networks.

With the latest progress in construction, it is clear that the works of the Maharashtra section are progressing quite well with significant civil engineering and viaduct related works being carried out in the corridor.