New Delhi [India]: Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced the installation of the first 14-meter-high electrical masts between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat as part of India’s ambitious Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.
In a post on X, Vaishnaw stated, “The first electrical masts (14 m high) were installed between Surat and Bilimora for the bullet train project.”
🚄The first electrical masts (14m high) installed between Surat – Bilimora, for Bullet train project. pic.twitter.com/S8DpuafBXh
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 16, 2025
The electrification work for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train corridor began on Thursday, with the first two steel masts erected on the viaduct at a height of 14 meters from the ground level between the Surat-Bilimora Bullet Train Stations.
According to the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL), over 20,000 masts, ranging in height from 9.5 to 14.5 meters, will be installed throughout the corridor. These masts will support the Overhead Equipment (OHE) system, which includes overhead wires, earthing systems, fittings, and other accessories. The system will form the complete 2×25 kV overhead traction setup suitable for high-speed trains.
In alignment with the ‘Make in India’ initiative, these OHE masts, designed to Japanese standards and specifications, are being manufactured domestically to support the high-speed rail system.
On January 13, another significant milestone was achieved with the completion of a 210-meter-long pre-stressed concrete (PSC) bridge over National Highway-48 near Dabhan village in Gujarat’s Kheda district. This bridge, part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project, connects the Anand and Ahmedabad stations and was completed on January 9, 2025.
Constructed using the Balanced Cantilever Method, the bridge comprises 72 precast segments and features four spans configured as 40 meters + 65 meters + 65 meters + 40 meters.
The NHSRCL reported several advancements in the project, including the completion of 253 kilometers of viaduct work, 290 kilometers of girder casting, and 358 kilometers of pier construction. Additionally, bridges have been constructed over 13 rivers, and five steel bridges have been completed. Noise barriers now cover approximately 112 kilometers, and track construction has commenced at multiple sites across Gujarat.
This progress underscores the significant strides India is making in developing a world-class high-speed rail infrastructure, promising faster connectivity and economic growth.