29 September,2026 12:39 PM IST | Thane | mid-day online correspondent
The first steel bridge for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project is installed over NH-3 at Dive-Anjur in Thane. Representational pic
A 100-metre-long steel bridge weighing 1,405 metric tonnes has been installed in Maharashtra's Thane district as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, officials said.
The bridge is the first steel structure of its kind to be set up in Maharashtra under the ambitious high-speed rail project. It was transported to Thane from a specialised workshop in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, located around 1,300 km away, and assembled at the site before being launched into position.
The 14-metre-high bridge, which is also 14 metres wide, was installed over National Highway-3 at Dive-Anjur village in the Bhiwandi area on Monday, according to a release issued by the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL).
With the latest installation, 16 of the 28 steel bridges planned along the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor have now been completed, NHSRCL said.
The bridge was fabricated at a specialised workshop in Trichy, highlighting the use of domestic technical expertise and materials in the project under the Make in India initiative.
After fabrication, the massive structure was transported over a distance of more than 1,300 km using heavy trailers before reaching Thane. It was subsequently assembled at the installation site for the final launching operation.
The installation involved a complex launching operation that was carried out with a focus on structural safety while limiting disruption to commuters using the busy highway, the release said.
An automated system was used to pull the assembled bridge into its designated position. The operation was conducted during scheduled night-time traffic blocks on the highway to minimise the impact on road users.
The bridge has also been equipped with features intended to improve its durability and performance. These include a protective painting system and elastomeric bearings designed to help manage vibrations.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project involves the construction of India's first dedicated high-speed rail corridor. The 508-km line will connect Mumbai in Maharashtra with Ahmedabad in Gujarat.
The project is aimed at significantly reducing travel time between the two cities once the high-speed rail service becomes operational.
The installation of the steel bridge in Thane marks another construction milestone for the corridor, with multiple steel bridges planned across the route to support the high-speed rail infrastructure.
(With inputs from PTI)
