NHSRCL Unveils Milestone Achievement – Inaugurates First Steel Bridge for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor
In a historic moment, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has successfully erected the inaugural steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) Corridor today. The bridge, measuring an impressive 70 meters in length, now spans over National Highway-53 in the vibrant city of Surat, Gujarat.
This remarkable feat marks the commencement of a monumental project, as the MAHSR Corridor is set to feature a total of 28 steel bridges of similar magnitude. The construction of these steel marvels will entail the utilization of approximately 70,000 metric tons of specified steel. These steel bridges will exhibit varying spans, ranging from 60 meters with ‘simply supported’ structures to awe-inspiring 230-meter ‘continuous span’ bridges.
Demonstrating a fusion of Japanese expertise and India’s burgeoning indigenous technical and material capabilities, this achievement is a testament to the “Make in India” vision. The application of steel bridges, renowned for their suitability in traversing highways, expressways, and railway lines, signifies India’s proficiency in fabricating structures capable of accommodating heavy-haul and semi-high-speed trains, operating at speeds ranging from 100 to 160 kilometers per hour. Notably, this marks the very first instance where a steel bridge has been engineered to support a Shinkansen Bullet train, with a remarkable top speed of 320 kilometers per hour.
The journey of this steel bridge began at a workshop located in the Hapur district, nearly 1200 kilometers away from the installation site. Comprising a staggering 700 individual pieces, weighing a collective 673 metric tons, the steel structure was meticulously transported to its destination on specialized trailers. Upon arrival, a team of experts assembled the steel bridge, which stands between 12 to 14 meters in height, on staging positioned atop 10- to 12-meter-high piers. Following this, an imposing launching nose, weighing approximately 200 metric tons, was seamlessly integrated with the primary bridge assembly. The culmination of this process involved the precise maneuvering of the bridge assembly into its intended position, executed with utmost precision under a complete traffic block on National Highway.
Each batch of steel used underwent rigorous testing through Ultrasonic Testing (UT) at the manufacturer’s facilities. The fabrication of these steel bridges involved a series of advanced, high-tech procedures, including cutting, drilling, welding, and painting, all meticulously executed in accordance with design blueprints created by Japanese engineers. The contractors were mandated to enlist welders and supervisors certified by International Welding Experts, with the welding process closely monitored by Japanese International Welding Experts (IWE) stationed at each workshop. The fabricated structures also underwent a meticulous Check Assembly process, followed by an intricate five-layered painting of the steel structure.
The painting technique adopted for these steel girders is unprecedented in India, adhering to the C-5 Painting system of the Japan Road Association’s “Handbook for Corrosion Protection of Steel Road Bridges.”
Key Technical Details:
- Length of the Main Bridge: 70 meters
- Weight of the Main Bridge: 673 metric tons
- Length of the Launching Nose: 38 meters
- Weight of the Launching Nose: 167 metric tons
- Total Steel Used for Main Bridge: 673 metric tons
This milestone achievement not only marks a significant step forward in the development of the MAHSR Corridor but also demonstrates India’s prowess in engineering and construction on a grand scale. The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor continues to take shape, promising to revolutionize the future of high-speed rail travel in India.
