Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train project installs 5 heavy portal beams over Ahmedabad tracks in 22 days
The Mumbai Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project has achieved a major engineering milestone with the successful installation of five heavy portal beams over active railway tracks at Maninagar in Ahmedabad within just 22 days.
According to officials, the precast and prestressed portal beams were launched in phases on April 8, 13, 19, 24, and 29 over the busy Ahmedabad–Vadodara railway corridor, in close coordination with Indian Railways.
Weighing between 1,170 metric tonnes and 1,360 metric tonnes, these beams are among the heaviest structures installed over operational railway lines in the country. The heaviest beam, at around 1,360 metric tonnes, was launched on April 8.
The installation was carried out across multiple active lines, including up, down, and third tracks, requiring precise planning and strict safety protocols. The Maninagar alignment involves elevated construction over existing tracks, with limited space and spans of 30–34 metres between piers.
To execute the operation, a 2,200 metric-tonne crawler crane was deployed—marking its first use on Indian railway tracks. Each beam was installed in approximately 3.5 hours, significantly reducing the earlier time requirement of up to nine hours.
Despite challenges such as overhead electrification and continuous train movement, the work was completed with constant monitoring and coordination to ensure safety and minimal disruption.
Portal beams are large precast concrete structures designed to provide strong and stable support for elevated infrastructure across railway lines, ensuring minimal deflection and maintaining track alignment.
The achievement marks a key step forward in India’s high-speed rail infrastructure development.
