Ahmedabad: A 36-meter-tall bridge, equivalent to a 12-storey building (approx. 118 feet), is currently under construction over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad as part of the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project.

Spanning 480 meters, the bridge is adjacent to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Delhi main line, which is about 14.8 meters tall. Once completed, the bridge will not only stand as a symbol of modern connectivity but also exemplify harmony between high-speed infrastructure and the existing rail network.

In Ahmedabad district, the Bullet Train alignment is crossing multiple structures, including flyovers, bridges, railway lines, and metro corridors. To maintain the mandatory vertical clearance of 5.5 meters from the topmost construction point, as per IRC (Indian Roads Congress) guidelines, the piers of the Sabarmati River bridge have been designed with increased height.

A total of eight (8) circular piers with diameters of 6 to 6.5 meters are being constructed: four (4) located within the riverbed, two (2) on the riverbanks (one on each side), and two (2) outside the riverbanks. The bridge has been strategically designed to minimize obstruction in the river waterway.

While most river bridges on the Mumbai–Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor typically have shorter spans of around 40 meters, this bridge uses longer spans ranging from 50 to 80 meters to reduce the number of piers within the riverbed.

The bridge comprises five spans of 76 meters each and two spans of 50 meters each. Each span consists of 23 segments cast in situ (constructed at site). The casting of these segments requires meticulous precision, a highly skilled workforce, and a dedicated team at every stage to ensure structural strength and quality.

It is being constructed using the Balanced Cantilever Method, a specialized construction technique ideal for long-span bridges over deep waters and rivers. This method involves building the superstructure without installing scaffolding systems under the bridge, by sequentially joining segments to form a span through post-tensioning and balancing the segments on either side of each pier using special erection equipment. This creates a continuous and stable bridge deck.

To ensure the highest standards of safety during construction, a robust set of safety protocols has been put in place, especially for activities involving working at height. A structured work permit system ensures strict accountability and discipline at the site. All workers are required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including full-body harnesses, at all times. To mitigate fall-related risks, catch nets have been installed below the Form Traveler/Bridge Builder structures, and CCTV cameras have been installed for real-time monitoring of the construction process.

The bridge construction work has achieved remarkable progress. While all foundation and substructure works have been successfully completed, superstructure activities, including pier head construction and segment casting, are currently underway.

Salient features of the bridge:

• Length: 480 meters

• Width of the river: 350 meters

• Consists of 5 spans of 76 meters and 2 spans of 50 meters

• Height of piers: 31 to 34 meters

• Circular piers of 6 m & 6.5 m diameter (8 in total)

• Located between Sabarmati and Ahmedabad Bullet Train stations: approx. 1 km from Sabarmati station and around 4 km from Ahmedabad station

• Built over one of India’s major west-flowing rivers, originating in the Aravalli hills and meeting the Gulf of Khambhat

MAHSR corridor features 25 river bridges, out of which 21 are in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra.
Out of the 21 river bridges planned in Gujarat, 16 have been completed on rivers viz. Par (Valsad district), Purna (Navsari district), Mindhola (Navsari district), Ambika (Navsari district), Auranga (Valsad district), Venganiya (Navsari district), Mohar (Kheda district), Dhadhar (Vadodara district), Kolak (Valsad district), Vatrak (Kheda district), Kaveri (Navsari district), Kharera (Navsari district), Meshwa (Kheda district), Kim (Surat district), Darotha (Valsad district) and Daman Ganga (Valsad district). DeshGujarat