India’s National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has announced the launch of a domestic steel bridge over the Delhi-Mumbai National Expressway near Vadodara, Gujarat. 

This launch is for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor project, which is expected to operate at 320km/h. NHSRCL aims to complete the bullet train project by 2028.  

The 130m bridge was launched in less than 24 hours, with breaks planned to minimise disruption to road traffic.  

Fabricated in Wardha, Maharashtra, the 3,000-tonne (t) steel structure stands 18m tall and 14.9m wide. It is said to have been transported to the installation site on trailers. 

The bridge's construction used approximately 124,246 Tor-Shear Type High Strength bolts and featured C5 system painting and metallic spherical bearings, all designed to ensure a 100-year lifespan.  

The assembly of the steel bridge was carried out 15m above the ground on temporary trestles and involved the use of semiautomatic jacks and Macalloy bars to pull the structure into place. 

This project represents India's commitment to its 'Make in India' initiative while incorporating Japanese expertise.  

The aforementioned bridge is the third of 28 planned steel bridges for the corridor. 

The first two have already been launched across National Highway 53 in Surat and over the Vadodara-Ahmedabad main line of Indian Railways near Nadiad, Gujarat. 

Last year, two companies submitted bids in response to NHSRCL's call for the construction of a 21km underground tunnel, which forms part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor. 

This underground tunnel extends from Kalyan Shilphata to Bandra Kurla Complex as part of the high-speed rail corridor.