Gujarat bullet train: 130-metre steel bridge span completed in Bharuch
Synopsis
India's bullet train project has quietly crossed a major engineering threshold: a 2,900-tonne, 130-metre steel span has been launched over an active freight corridor in Bharuch — assembled on trestles and pushed into place by 250-tonne jacks. With 14 of 17 Gujarat steel bridges now done, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor is building visible momentum.
Key Takeaways
A 130-metre steel span was successfully launched near Tralsi village, Bharuch on 16 May 2025 as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.
230 metres of the planned 330-metre three-span steel bridge are now complete; the remaining 100-metre continuous span is yet to be erected.
The completed span weighs approximately 2,900 metric tonnes ; the full bridge will weigh around 6,100 metric tonnes .
Steel components were manufactured at the Carbon Factory workshop, Umargam , with a designed lifespan of 100 years .
14 of 17 steel bridges planned in Gujarat have now been completed; the corridor has 28 steel bridges in total.
A 130-metre steel bridge span crossing an Indian Railways freight corridor in Bharuch district, Gujarat, has been successfully launched as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, officials confirmed on Wednesday, 20 May. With this milestone, 230 metres of a planned 330-metre steel bridge structure near Tralsi village has now been completed.
Bridge Design and Dimensions
The structure is a three-span steel bridge comprising a 100+130-metre continuous span and a separate 100-metre simply supported span. The newly launched 130-metre continuous span stands approximately 18 metres high and 15.5 metres wide, weighing around 2,900 metric tonnes. The 100-metre simply supported span, weighing around 1,500 metric tonnes, had already been erected in situ in March. Once the remaining 100-metre continuous span — weighing approximately 1,600 metric tonnes — is erected, the complete bridge will weigh around 6,100 metric tonnes.
Engineering and Construction Method
The 130-metre span was first assembled on temporary trestles at nearly 14 metres above ground level, then advanced into position using an automated launching system driven by two semi-automatic jacks, each with a pushing capacity of up to 250 tonnes through Mac-Alloy bars. Around 1,21,373 Tor-Shear Type High Strength (TTHS) bolts were used in its construction, along with metallic bearings and C5 system protective painting. The steel components were manufactured at the Carbon Factory workshop in Umargam and are engineered for an operational lifespan of 100 years.
Freight Corridor Operations Maintained
The bridge crosses the track of the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India (DFCCIL) between the Surat and Vadodara sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. According to officials, the launching work was executed under carefully coordinated traffic arrangements that ensured phased completion while maintaining safety and minimising disruption to freight train movement.
Overall Project Progress
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor includes 28 planned steel bridges in total. Of the 17 steel bridges planned in Gujarat, 14 have now been completed. This bridge at Tralsi is among the more technically demanding, given its multi-span continuous design and the need to work above an active freight corridor. The project continues to advance as India builds its first high-speed rail link between its financial capital and the commercial hub of Gujarat.
Point of View
900-tonne span — without halting freight movement — is a genuine engineering achievement, not a routine milestone. The real test, however, is whether this construction pace translates into a credible revised commissioning date, which the project authority has been reluctant to specify. With 14 of 17 Gujarat bridges done but the Maharashtra stretch still lagging, the corridor's completion timeline remains asymmetric.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What has been completed in the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project in Gujarat?
A 130-metre steel bridge span crossing the Dedicated Freight Corridor track in Bharuch district was successfully launched on 16 May 2025. This brings the total completed length of that particular bridge to 230 metres out of a planned 330 metres.
Where exactly is this bullet train bridge being built?
The bridge is located near Tralsi village in Bharuch district, Gujarat. It crosses the DFCCIL track between the Surat and Vadodara sections of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor.
How many steel bridges have been completed for the bullet train project in Gujarat?
14 of the 17 steel bridges planned in Gujarat have been completed. The full Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor includes 28 steel bridges in total.
How was the 130-metre span constructed without disrupting freight trains?
The span was assembled on temporary trestles at about 14 metres above ground and then pushed into position using an automated launching system with two semi-automatic jacks. Officials said phased traffic arrangements ensured minimal disruption to freight train movement throughout the process.
How long will the bullet train steel bridge last?
The steel components, manufactured at the Carbon Factory workshop in Umargam, are designed for an operational lifespan of 100 years. They have been treated with C5 system protective painting for long-term durability.
