Rising beside the 14.8-metre Western Railway line, a bullet train bridge is set to reshape Ahmedabad’s skyline.
A 36-metre-tall bridge—equal in height to a 12-storey building—is taking shape over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad, marking a major milestone in India’s first bullet train corridor.
Spanning 480 metres, the bridge sits adjacent to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad-Delhi main line, which stands at approximately 14.8 metres. To maintain the mandated vertical clearance of 5.5 metres above existing infrastructure, as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines, the bullet train’s piers have been engineered with exceptional height.
The bridge comprises eight circular piers, each 6-6.5 metres in diameter. Of these, four piers are located within the riverbed, with two on each riverbank, and two outside the banks. Strategic pier placement has minimised disruption to river flow while maintaining structural integrity.
Unlike other river bridges along the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) route, where spans typically measure 40 metres, this bridge uses longer spans of 50 to 76 metres to reduce the number of piers within the river. It features five spans of 76 metres and two spans of 50 metres. Each span comprises 23 in-situ cast segments, requiring a skilled workforce and precision at every stage to ensure strength and quality.
Construction uses the balanced cantilever method, which is ideal for long spans over deep water, enabling superstructure work without scaffolding. Segments are post-tensioned and joined from either side of each pier, forming a stable, continuous bridge deck.
To ensure safety, particularly for height-based work, a rigorous protocol is in place. A structured permit system ensures accountability. All workers wear full-body harnesses and personal protective equipment (PPE) at all times. Catch nets have been installed below the form traveller system to mitigate fall-related risks. CCTV cameras enable round-the-clock monitoring.
Foundation and substructure works are now complete, with superstructure activities including pier head construction and segment casting currently underway.
Of the 25 river bridges planned on the MAHSR corridor, 21 are in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra. And within Gujarat’s share of the corridor, 16 have already been completed.