Kolak River Bridge Completed: Milestone for Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail
Mumbai, 16th July 2024: The construction of the bridge over the Kolak River in Valsad for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) has been successfully concluded, marking it as the ninth river bridge in Gujarat and the third between Vapi and Bilimora bullet train stations.
The MAHSR project in Gujarat includes a total of 24 river bridges, with completed ones spanning various rivers such as Par, Purna, Mindhola, Venganiya, Ambika, Auranga, Mohar, and Dhadhar. Ongoing work is progressing on bridges across rivers like Narmada, Tapti, Mahi, and Sabarmati.
According to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), the newly completed Kolak River bridge measures 160 meters in length and comprises four full-span girders, each spanning 40 meters. Situated between Vapi and Bilimora stations, it plays a crucial role in enhancing connectivity along the high-speed rail route.
Earlier reports highlighted the completion of foundation work at all eight stations in Gujarat for India’s inaugural bullet train project. These stations include Vapi, Bilimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, and Sabarmati.
The MAHSR project, spanning a total length of 508 km across Maharashtra, Dadra Nagar Haveli, and Gujarat, began in September 2017. Initially slated for completion by December 2023, delays have pushed some sections to commence around 2026. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw anticipates that bullet train services between Surat and Bilimora will commence by 2026.
The high-speed trains on this corridor are designed to operate at speeds up to 320 km/hour. The project envisages running 35 trains per day in each direction, with peak-hour frequencies of 20 minutes and 30 minutes during non-peak hours. The operational control centre for the corridor will be situated at Sabarmati, facilitating efficient management and monitoring of train operations.
