An aerial view of India’s first Bullet Train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad after completion of 300 km of viaducts, on May 20, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The bullet train corridor between Mumbai and Ahmedabad has achieved a significant construction milestone with the completion of 300 km of viaducts, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) announced on Tuesday (May 20, 2025).

“This achievement was marked by the launching of a 40-metre-long full-span box girder near Surat, Gujarat,” NHSRCL said in a statement.

Of the 300 km of the viaduct’s superstructure, 257.4 km has been constructed using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM), including 14 river bridges. An additional 37.8 km has been constructed using the Span by Span (SBS) method, while 0.9 km comprises steel bridges across 10 spans ranging from 60 to 130 metres across seven bridges. Another 1.2 km is built using Pre-stressed Concrete (PSC) bridges with 20 spans between 40 and 80 metres, and 2.7 km has been constructed within station buildings, the statement said.

For the 257.4 km of viaduct constructed using FSLM and the 37.8 km using SBS, 6,455 and 925 spans of 40 metres each were deployed, respectively.

The project has notably promoted the use of indigenously designed and manufactured equipment, such as straddle carriers, launching gantries, bridge gantries, and girder transporters. “This marks a first for Indian infrastructure, showcasing India’s growing capabilities in high-speed rail technology with support from the Japanese government,” the NHSRCL statement noted.

A spokesperson said the adoption of the Full Span Launching Method has “significantly accelerated construction, as full-span girder erection is up to ten times faster than conventional segmental methods.” Each full-span box girder weighs approximately 970 metric tonnes, while segmental girders are employed selectively in locations where full-span installation is not feasible.

To support the scale of construction, 27 dedicated casting yards have been set up along the corridor. Steel bridges are being fabricated in seven workshops across the country – three in Gujarat and one each in Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and West Bengal.

In an effort to reduce noise pollution, more than 3 lakh noise barriers have been installed along the viaducts.

In addition to the viaduct construction, the NHSRCL has completed 383 km of pier work, 401 km of foundation work, and 326 km of girder casting. Track works over the viaducts have also commenced, with approximately 157 track kilometres of Reinforced Concrete track bed construction completed so far in Gujarat.

“Rolling stock depots with modern infrastructure are also taking shape in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” the spokesperson added. “Stations, which will be integrated with rail and road-based transport systems to provide seamless travel to passengers, are progressing steadily.”