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A major milestone in India’s infrastructure development has been achieved with the completion of a 210-metre-long bridge over National Highway 48 (NH-48) at
Vaghaldhara village in Valsad district, Gujarat. This bridge, part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, was finished on January 2, 2025, marking another significant step forward in the country’s first high-speed rail initiative.
This pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridge was constructed using the advanced Balanced Cantilever Method, which is particularly suitable for projects involving longer spans. The structure comprises 72 precast segments, designed in a span configuration of 40m + 65m + 65m + 40m, ensuring stability and durability.
The bridge is strategically located between the Vapi and Bilimora stations along the bullet train corridor. Its construction was no small feat, given NH-48’s status as one of India’s busiest highways, connecting key cities like Delhi and Chennai. The project team took on the dual challenge of executing complex engineering work while ensuring minimal disruption to the heavy traffic flow on this crucial route.
To ensure the safety of motorists and workers alike, construction was carried out with meticulous planning. Additional lanes were constructed on both sides of NH-48, allowing vehicles to bypass the active construction zone safely. These lanes helped prevent vehicles from passing directly under suspended loads or within the one-meter shadow margin during the building process.
A phased traffic diversion plan was also implemented, allowing vehicles to navigate smoothly without long delays or confusion. The diversion arrangements were monitored around the clock to address any unexpected issues swiftly. This careful coordination ensured that public inconvenience was minimised and traffic on NH-48 remained uninterrupted throughout the construction period.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project aims to revolutionise rail travel in India, reducing travel time between the two cities to just under three hours. Bridges like the one at Vaghaldhara are critical to the success of this ambitious venture, as they ensure smooth integration of the bullet train route with existing infrastructure.
This newly completed bridge is the third PSC bridge constructed over NH-48 as part of the project. Two similar structures in Navsari district, located between Surat and Bilimora stations, were completed earlier. These include a 260-metre-long bridge and another spanning 210 metres. Together, these structures represent the immense scale and precision engineering that the bullet train project demands.
