36-Meter-Tall Bridge Rising Over Sabarmati for Bullet Train Project
High Speed Rail Corridor Bridge over Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad (Image Railways)
Equivalent to a 12-storey building, the bridge under construction in Ahmedabad will be among the tallest river bridges
By S JHA
MUMBAI, August 1, 2025 – A spectacular engineering marvel is taking shape over the Sabarmati River as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, with a 36-meter-tall bridge—equivalent to a 12-storey building—currently under construction. Stretching 480 meters in length, the bridge stands as a bold symbol of India’s leap into high-speed rail connectivity.
The bridge is being constructed near the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Delhi main line, which stands at just 14.8 meters tall—less than half the height of the bullet train structure. Once completed, this towering bridge will not only support ultra-modern train operations but also reflect seamless integration with existing rail infrastructure.
To comply with the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) guidelines that mandate a vertical clearance of 5.5 meters, engineers have increased the pier heights to between 31 and 34 meters. The bridge is supported by eight circular piers (diameter: 6 to 6.5 meters)—with four located inside the riverbed, two on each bank, and the remaining two outside the banks to ensure minimal interference with river flow.
While most river bridges on the bullet train corridor span just 40 meters, this iconic structure uses longer spans of 50 to 76 meters to reduce the number of in-river piers—thus minimizing environmental disruption.
Balanced Cantilever Method for Deep Water Spanning
The bridge is being constructed using the Balanced Cantilever Method, ideal for long spans over rivers and deep waters. This method enables construction without conventional scaffolding, using precision-engineered form travelers to build segments on either side of each pier, which are then post-tensioned to form continuous, stable spans.
Each of the seven spans (five of 76 meters and two of 50 meters) comprises 23 segments, all being cast in-situ with high precision, requiring a skilled workforce and stringent quality control at every stage.
Given the height and complexity, robust safety protocols are in place:
- Mandatory PPE and full-body harnesses for all workers
- Catch nets installed beneath the Form Traveler structures
- Real-time CCTV monitoring to track construction activities
- A structured work permit system ensuring strict on-site accountability
The foundation and substructure work has already been completed, and the superstructure construction—including pier heads and span segments—is progressing rapidly.
Located between the Sabarmati and Ahmedabad Bullet Train stations, the bridge lies 1 km from Sabarmati station and 4 km from Ahmedabad station. The Sabarmati River, a major west-flowing river in India, originates from the Aravalli Hills and flows into the Arabian Sea through the Gulf of Khambhat.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor will feature 25 river bridges, out of which 21 are in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra. So far, 16 of the 21 bridges in Gujarat have been completed, including those over rivers like the Par, Purna, Ambika, Mindhola, Auranga, Kolak, Meshwa, Kim, and Daman Ganga.
Once completed, this 36-meter-tall bridge over the Sabarmati will not only serve as a vital link for India’s first bullet train but also stand as a technological and architectural landmark, reflecting the country’s advancing engineering capabilities and infrastructure vision.
Follow The Raisina Hills on WhatsApp, Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn
About The Author
