Ahmedabad: Construction of a 36-metre-tall bridge, equivalent to a 12-storey building (approx. 118 feet), over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad is advancing steadily as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, the National High Speed Rail Corporation said in a press release.

The 480-metre-long bridge is being built alongside the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Delhi main line. Strategically located between the Sabarmati and Ahmedabad bullet train stations, it lies approximately 1 km from Sabarmati Bullet Train Station and about 4 km from Ahmedabad Bullet Train Station.

All eight circular piers, with diameters of 6 to 6.5 metres, have been completed. Of these, four are located within the riverbed, two are placed on the riverbanks (one on each side), and two are outside the riverbank. The pier heights vary from 31 to 34 metres. The structure has been designed with strategic placement of piers to minimise obstruction in the river waterway.

The bridge comprises five spans of 76 metres and two spans of 50 metres, with each span being constructed using 23 segments cast in situ (on-site). It is being constructed using the balanced cantilever method, a specialised construction technique ideal for long-span bridges over deep waters and rivers. This method allows construction without installing scaffolding beneath the bridge, with the superstructure completed by sequentially joining segments through post-tensioning and balancing from each pier using specialised equipment, resulting in a continuous and stable bridge deck.

According to NHSRCL, the bridge construction has achieved significant progress, with all foundation and substructure works now complete. Three spans of 76 metres have been completed, while superstructure activities, including pier head construction and segment casting, are currently underway.

Special emphasis has been placed on maintaining uninterrupted water flow in the river throughout the construction process. Hume pipe culverts have been installed within the temporary embankment, along with a maintained natural discharge channel, allowing continuous and free movement of water. These measures ensure that the river’s flow remains unaffected by construction activities, the NHSRCL said in the press release. DeshGujarat