The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, commonly known as the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train corridor, has achieved a significant construction milestone. All nine river bridges along the route between Vapi and Surat have now been completed, according to an official release on Sunday. This development is part of the broader 508-kilometer high-speed rail project, which will connect two major Indian economic centers with rapid transit.
The latest bridge, constructed over the Kharera River in Gujarat’s Navsari district, is the twelfth completed river bridge within Gujarat. It is also the latest of the 20 river bridges planned in the state. Finished on October 29, the Kharera bridge spans 120 meters in length with three 40-meter girders, supported by piers ranging from 14.5 to 19 meters high. It lies between the Vapi and Bilimora stations, positioned about 45 kilometers from Vapi and 6 kilometers from Bilimora.
The nine completed bridges in the Vapi-Surat stretch include crossings over the Kharera, Kolak, Par, Auranga, Purna, Mindhola, Ambika, Kaveri, and Venganiya rivers. This spans multiple districts, including Valsad and Navsari, and marks a substantial step forward in the project’s progress. Additionally, bridges over the Dhadhar River in Vadodara district, and the Mohar and Vatrak rivers in Kheda district have also been completed, bringing the total finished river crossings to twelve.
High-Speed Rail to Drastically Cut Travel Time Upon completion, the bullet train will reduce the travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad from the current six hours by conventional rail to approximately two hours. The corridor, with trains reaching speeds of up to 320 km/h, is set to revolutionize regional connectivity and enhance economic integration across Gujarat and Maharashtra.
National and International Collaboration The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, a partnership between India and Japan, represents a significant leap in India’s rail infrastructure. With a sanctioned cost of Rs 1,08,000 crore, the project is expected to bolster regional development, boost employment opportunities, and establish Indian Railways as a leader in high-speed rail technology and safety standards.
