04 May,2026 07:26 PM IST | New Delhi | mid-day online correspondent
The first launch on April 8 involved the heaviest beam, weighing about 1,360 metric tonnes. Representational pic
Five heavy portal beams for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project have been launched over the Ahmedabad-Vadodara railway line in the Maninagar area, completing a key phase of construction within 22 days, news agency IANS reported.
The precast-prestressed beams were launched in a phased manner on April 8, 13, 19, 24, and 29, in coordination with Indian Railways.
Each installation was completed in about three-and-a-half hours, significantly reducing the duration compared with earlier operations that required up to nine-hour traffic blocks.
Addressing the development, officials said, "All five (5) precast-prestressed heavy portal beams (girders) have been successfully launched over the Ahmedabad-Vadodara railway line in Maninagar⦠within just 22 days."
The first launch on April 8 involved the heaviest beam, weighing about 1,360 metric tonnes. Officials said it was "one of the heaviest lifts ever undertaken over operational railway lines".
The remaining beams weighed between 1,170 and 1,360 metric tonnes, making the operation one of the most complex structural exercises carried out on railway infrastructure.
The Maninagar section involves the high-speed rail alignment crossing existing tracks at an elevated level with limited working space and a span of around 30 to 34 metres between piers.
"The space between the two piers is also relatively large⦠which further demands a strong and rigid supporting system like portal beams," officials said.
Each beam measures 34 metres in length with a cross-section of 5.5 metres by 4.5 metres and was precast as an integrated unit before installation.
The portal beams are designed to span multiple active railway lines, including the Ahmedabad-Vadodara up, down and third lines. Their structural capacity helps minimise deflection and maintain alignment, ensuring safe railway operations below.
The launches were carried out using a 2,200 metric-ton crawler crane, deployed for the first time over Indian railway tracks.
Despite challenges such as restricted space, overhead electrification systems and ongoing train movement, the work was completed with "high precision, strict safety checks, and continuous monitoring," officials said.
They added that the operation reflects detailed planning and coordination required to execute heavy engineering work over a busy railway route without disrupting regular services.
(With IANS inputs)
