Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet Train’s OWG Bridge Launched over Delhi – Mumbai Expressway
M G Contractors Pvt. Ltd. (MGCPL) today completed launching an open web girder (OWG) truss bridge for the 508.17 Mumbai – Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR Bullet Train) project over the Delhi – Mumbai Expressway in Gujarat’s Vadodara District.
The 130m long steel bridge (GAD 1967) was slowly pushed and rolled into position within 24 hours using multiple rollers and hydraulic jacks with intermittent breaks to allow vehicular traffic to pass. The launch site is located north of Vadodara city on the way to Anand – view on Google Maps.
The bridge weighs ~3098 MT and was manufactured by Zetwerk in Wardha, Maharashtra. It has a height of 18 meters and width of 14.9 meters. It’s the third OWG launched so far and I believe it will be the longest one of the entire project.
Per NHSRCL’s press release:
The bridge fabrication utilized approximately 124,246 Nos. of Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts with C5 system painting and metallic spherical bearings, all designed for a 100-year lifespan. The steel bridge was assembled at the site at a height of 15 m from the ground on temporary trestles and was pulled with automatic mechanism of 2 number of semi-automatic jacks, each of capacity of 250 ton using mac-alloy bars
India’s National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL) had awarded M G Contractors with bridge package P-1(C)‘s Rs. 261.24 crore contract in August 2021. P1-C’s scope involves the construction of 1 prestressed concrete (PSC) and 4 steel truss bridges (GAD 28, 1967, 31 and 32) within 87.569 km Package C6 (Vadodara – Ahmedabad) which is under construction by Larsen & Toubro.
Trestle erection to support the bridge’s assembly and launch had started exactly a year ago in early April 2023.
An estimated 70,865 MT of steel will be used for the fabrication of the line’s 28 steel bridges. The very first OWG of the entire project was placed into position in October 2023 by MG Contractors on Package P-1(B) at MAHSR’s chainage 254.585 over across NH-53 near Surat – see details and pics.
For Package P1(C), the first OWG was placed over Indian Railways’ main-line track between Kanjari Boriyavi and Uttarsanda stations in April 2024 – see details and pics.
For more updates, check out the High Speed Rail section or my Home Page! Sign up for free instant email notifications on new posts over here. Like this post? Get early-access to updates and support the site over here.
– TMRG
Thanks for the swift updates.
On a slightly unrelated note, do you have any updates regarding Bhopal metro’s BH-05 package? It’s been ages since I’ve seen any meaningful progress.
Hi, it’s on my radar. Technical bid evaluation is still underway. I’ll write about the winner whenever evaluation is completed and MPMRCL opens financial bids.
Hey TMRG
any news regarding Shinkansen e5 rolling stock?
lately there have been many misinformed news agencies posting that there wont be any japanese Shinkansen rather ICF will make 250kmph rated trains locally
Hi Satish,
I recently asked the same question to PowertrainYt. In video he clariefied that though ICF are producing Semi-HSR it is meant for exports as Indian broad gauge train can’t be exported so they ought to develop new train on VB base.
Reagrding MAHSR E5 rolling stock will be procured and run as well since the tracks are built for 350kmph E5.
I was really surprised by the news. Then I realized that the government would never use 250 km/h trains for this project.
If they didn’t want the Shinkansen, they wouldn’t have showcased a 1:25 scale model of the Shinkansen E5 at the Vibrant Gujarat Summit.
Additionally, there’s already a Shinkansen training institute being built in Vadodara.
There’s also no way Japanese authorities would approve the ICF trains.
Hello TMRG,
Please update when and where the next (OWG) truss bridge will be built with their contractor so that we can talk to the contractor in advance?
With Thanks & Regards
Please update the exact chennai Mysore bullet train route map