Five heavy portal beams for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project have been successfully launched over the Ahmedabad-Vadodara railway line in the Maninagar area of Ahmedabad. The precast-prestressed beams were launched in a planned sequence on April 8, 13, 19, 24, and 29, completing this critical phase of construction within just 22 days in coordination with Indian Railways. Each installation, taking about three and a half hours, significantly reduced the duration compared to previous nine-hour traffic blocks.
Addressing the achievement, officials mentioned that these precast-prestressed heavy portal beams, weighing between 1,170 and 1,360 metric tonnes, were among the heaviest lifts ever done over operational railway lines. The operation, involving the high-speed rail alignment crossing existing tracks at an elevated level with limited working space, was one of the most complex structural exercises conducted on railway infrastructure. The beams, measuring 34 meters in length with a cross-section of 5.5 meters by 4.5 meters, were precast on site before erection to span multiple active railway lines.
The launches were made possible using a 2,200 metric tonne crawler crane as the primary equipment, deployed for the first time over Indian railway tracks. Despite challenges like restricted space, overhead electrification systems, and ongoing train movements, officials emphasized the operation’s high precision, strict safety checks, and continuous monitoring. This successful completion highlights the detailed planning and coordination required to execute heavy engineering work over a high-traffic railway route without disrupting regular services.
