Mumbai: A 36-meter-tall bridge, equivalent to a 12-storey building (approx. 118 feet) is currently under construction over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project.
Spanning 480 meters, the bridge is adjacent to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad–Delhi main line, which is about 14.8 meter tall. "Once completed, the bridge will not only stand as a symbol of modern connectivity but also exemplify harmony between high-speed infrastructure and existing rail network" said an official.
In Ahmedabad district, the Bullet Train alignment is crossing multiple structures, including flyovers, bridges, railway lines, and metro corridors. To maintain the mandatory vertical clearance of 5.5 meters from the topmost construction point as per IRC (Indian Roads Congress) guidelines, the piers of the Sabarmati River bridge have been designed with increased height.
According to National High Speed Rail Corporation, a total of eight (08) circular piers with diameters of 6 to 6.5 meters are constructed, four (04) are located within the river bed, two (02) are placed on the river banks (one on each side) and two (02) are outside the river bank. The bridge has been designed with strategic placement of piers to minimize obstruction in the river waterway.
"While most river bridges on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor typically have shorter spans of around 40 meters, this bridge uses longer spans ranging from 50 to 80 meters to reduce the number of piers within the riverbed" stated an official.
The bridge comprises of 5 spans of 76 meters each and 2 spans of 50 meters each. Each span consists of 23 segments being cast in-situ (construction at site). The casting of these segments requires meticulous precision, highly skilled workforce and dedicated team at every stage to ensure structural strength and quality.
"It is being constructed by using Balanced Cantilever Method, a specialized construction technique ideal for long span bridges over deep waters and rivers. The concept of this construction method is to construct a bridge without installing scaffolding systems under the bridge and complete the superstructure of the bridge by sequentially joining the segments to form a span by post-tensioning and balancing the left and right from each pier using special erection equipment. This creates a continuous and stable bridge deck" official further stated.
To ensure the highest standards of safety during the bridge construction, a robust set of safety protocols have been put in place particularly for activities involving working at height. "A structured work permit system has been implemented to ensure strict accountability and discipline at site. All workers are strictly required to wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including full-body harnesses at all times. To mitigate fall-related risks, catch nets have been installed below the Form Traveler/Bridge Builder structures. CCTV cameras have been installed for real-time monitoring of the construction process" said an official.
"The bridge construction work has achieved a remarkable progress. While all foundation and substructure works have been successfully completed, the superstructure activities including pier head construction and segment casting are currently underway" official added.
MAHSR ( Mumbai Ahemdabad Hai Speed Rail) corridor features 25 river bridges, out of which 21 are in Gujarat and 4 in Maharashtra.
Out of the 21 river bridges planned in Gujarat, 16 have been completed.
Salient features of the Sabarmati bridge-
Length of the bridge is 480 meters
Width of the river is 350 meters
Consists of 5 spans of 76 m and 2 spans of 50 m
Height of piers - 31 meter to 34 meter
Circular piers of 6 m & 6.5 m diameter (8 Nos.)
Located in between Sabarmati and Ahmedabad Bullet Train stations, this bridge is 01 km from Sabarmati Bullet train station and around 04 km from Ahmedabad Bullet train station.
Sabarmati is one of the major west flowing rivers of India along with Narmada and Tapti which originates from Aravalli hills and meets the Gulf of Khambhat of the Arabian Sea.
