Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project: First of 14 Traction Power Substations Takes Shape in Bilimora

Navsari: The first traction substation (TSS) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor is nearing completion at Bilimora in Gujarat’s Navsari district, marking a key milestone in the development of the high-speed rail project’s power supply infrastructure.

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) said in a press release that 14 traction substations are being established along the 508-km corridor to ensure an uninterrupted power supply for bullet train operations.

Spread across approximately 18,000 square metres, the Bilimora substation is progressing through equipment installation, testing and commissioning activities. Installation work in the Control Panel, Changeover Switch, Transformer and Circuit Breaker buildings has been completed. The installation of all gantry towers and beams has also been completed.

Traction substations are a critical component of the high-speed rail power supply network. They receive electricity from the grid, transform it to the required voltage levels and supply it to the traction power system that powers the trains.

Of the 14 planned substations, five will be located in Maharashtra at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar and Thane Depot, while the remaining nine will be established in Gujarat at Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Mahemdavad, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati Depot.

The traction substations in Gujarat will receive electricity from the Gujarat Energy Transmission Corporation Limited’s (GETCO) 220 kV Ambetha Grid Substation. The power will subsequently be supplied to the Overhead Equipment (OHE) along the viaduct through the advanced 2 × 25 kV traction power supply system adopted for the corridor.

The entire traction power supply network will be continuously monitored in real time through a centralised control centre, ensuring reliable power distribution for bullet train operations. DeshGujarat