The Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of an 80-meter-long bridge over the Darotha River near Valsad in Gujarat. This crucial structure, linking the Boisar and Vapi sections, showcases complex civil engineering capabilities.
Bridge Design and Construction Specifics
This bridge features two 40-meter steel box segment girders supported by a single circular pier that stands 18 meters tall. Construction teams installed each girder as a full-span unit, a technique designed to improve speed and precision on the corridor. The project follows a series of similar river bridge completions under the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
Progress on Civil Structures Across the Route
The Darotha River bridge forms part of a larger civil works initiative. NHSRCL has already finished over 300 kilometers of viaducts along the corridor, including steel and prestressed concrete spans, foundations, piers, and sound barriers. Another milestone occurred recently near Bharuch, where a 100-meter steel bridge was launched over the Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Implications for Project Timeline and Travel
This latest bridge completion keeps the project on track for partial operations in 2026–27 and full corridor opening by 2028. Once complete, the bullet train will reduce journey time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad to under three hours, revolutionizing travel across western India.
Conclusion:
Completing the Darotha River bridge marks another leap forward in India’s first high-speed rail project. The steady progress in viaduct and bridge construction highlights the nation’s growing expertise in massive infrastructure delivery. The corridor is now closer to turning its vision into reality.
