L&T Begins Soil Testing for Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train
Right before the year ended, Larsen & Toubro and its geotechnical investigation subcontractors began soil investigation and joint ground surveys across Gujarat to build the 237.1 km Package C4 of the 508.17 km Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train).
Geotechnical investigation for the project was conducted as far back as 2017 and the results were made available to all interested firms during the bidding stage of Package C4 between March 2019 – October 2020. The current investigative work being done now is to revalidate those findings to properly design and construct the line’s foundation.
L&T has setup a 196 day deadline for completing geotechnical investigation including technical design drawings for site preparation (embankment drawing, plan view, sectional view, drainage drawing etc.) and approach roads.
Package C4 – the first of two packages awarded so far in October to L&T for the main-line’s 8 packages – represents 46.66% of the line making it the longest amongst all. It runs elevated from Zaroli Village on the Maharashtra – Gujarat border to Vadodara Station through 4 stations at Vapi, Bilimora, Surat and Bharuch in Gujarat.
It also includes construction of the Surat Depot, 14 river crossings, 42 road crossings, 6 railway crossings and one 350 meter tunnel through a hill.
Some snaps shot in Vaktana Village in Surat District:
L&T is currently mobilizing men & machinery to kickstart construction works for the project. I hear they will be setting up at least 3 large casting yards throughout the alignment of packages C4 (MH Border – Vadodara) and C6 (Vadodara – Ahmedabad).
Internally L&T has subdivided C4 into 5 parts:
- Section 1: MH-GJ Border (project start) to Vapi
- Section 2: Vapi to Bilimora
- Section 3: Bilimora to Surat
- Section 4: Surat to Bharuch
- Section 5: Bharuch to Vadodara
For more updates, check out the High Speed Rail section of The Metro Rail Guy!
– TMRG
Maharashtra government should come forward and should speed up the bullet train project which has not moved n inch due to uddhav egocentric behaviour.
True, it will also cost Mumbai and MH as large because the major work like a tunnel and Underground Terminus is in Mumbai which will delay the completion of entire project which means this further delays the work on Hyd and Nagpur lines.
I have no hopes from the current Maharashtra dispensation.. I hope they come to their senses soon..
Yes you are right, but recently Maha. Govt. Have ensure to the railways that they will provide atleast 80% of land for the Bullet train. Let’s hope the Best.
Yes . Its high time tht maha govt acts in national interest than narrow parochial mindset
Which company is doing the Geotechnical Investigation?
Don’t know. Couldn’t make anything out from the rig either.
L&T Geostructure has hired rigs locally to start the work.
I still am worried for India choosing bullet train for 350kmph when there’s technology now available for over 600kmph. Plus the technology used itself is almost primitive considering the bullet train started in the 1960s
Well most of the world are still using 350 kmph HSR. Yes u r right that the world has now technology to have 600 kmph Super High Speed Rail, but that technology is still under testing. For Eg:- Japan is Building Chuo Shinkansen which is the world’s 1st Long Range Maglev Train line. They have a plans to have initial speed of 500 kmph and later at 550 kmph. But currently this is under Testing and it will be open in 2027 from Tokyo to Nagoya at 1st Phase and later at Osaka at 2nd Phase. So, most of the world are still experimenting super HSR. So, I don’t think that India will get its 1st Super High Speed Maglev line before 2047. BTW you can have a small joyride of Japan Maglev at Yamanashi Test Track to get a experience on 500 kmph later this track will become the part of Chuo Shinkansen
Well, like Clevin mentioned, the maglev tech is not completely matured. But the larger issue is that it is not yet commercially viable. The cost of construction of Chuo Shinkansen is nearly 3 times that of a normal Shinkansen (which would be unacceptable to India). Shanghai maglev is draining 100 million dollars per year on the top of the extremely expensive infrastructure.
On track I believe that 400km/h is the optimum speed, going beyond is possible even now but the maintainence cost will go up, it doesnot looks economically viable with present technology.
But, what Indian Railways should do is, align tracks according to 450km/h speed and also have average speed of 450km/h between any two stations – non stop ( present avg speed of 250km/h is not acceptable, if it is between any two stations non stop)
Entire infrastructure should be designed according to speed of 450km/h whether its OHG etc.
Europe has higher speed trains which can be run commercially but tracks do not support higher speed.
I have heard someone has already conveyed this to the government, but they have ignored this advise, it seems.
Hi. can anyone indicate at what temperature concrete will be poured in casting yard & in situ column construction. I saw below 40 C in tender document, which can not be true, as stronger concrete structure need lower fresh concrete temp while pouring. Anyone can please throw some light on this topic.
Driling
My work or building materials
I have interested in l & t bullet train project to supply