Electrification work for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor has begun, with the first two steel poles installed on the viaduct at a height of 14 metres above ground level between Surat-Bilimora bullet train stations in Gujarat.
According to an official statement from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited, over 20,000 poles, each ranging in height from 9.5 to 14.5 metres, will be installed along the corridor. These columns will uphold the Overhead Equipment (OHE) system, which includes overhead cables, grounding systems, fittings, and associated accessories, forming the entire 2x25 kV overhead traction system for the MAHSR corridor, designed for operating the bullet train.
In support of the Make in India initiative, these OHE masts have been produced domestically following Japanese standard designs and will facilitate the overhead traction system for high-speed trains.
On January 13, the construction of a 210-meter-long pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridge, which is part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project on National Highway-48, was finished at Dabhan village near Nadiad in Gujarat's Kheda district.
The bridge, scheduled for completion on January 9, 2025, is situated between the Anand and Ahmedabad bullet train stations. The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited states that the bridge has been built using the Balanced Cantilever method, which is typically employed for large spans.
Viaduct construction has reached a total of 253 km, with 290 km of girders cast and 358 km of piers built. Additionally, bridges over 13 rivers and five steel bridges have been finished.Noise barriers have been installed along approximately 112 km, and track construction has started at various locations in Gujarat. A 21-kilometer tunnel connecting Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) and Thane in Maharashtra is currently being built.