Ahmedabad: Construction of all eight piers for a bridge across the Sabarmati as part of the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project is finally over. With the foundational piers in place, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has shifted focus to the construction of the overhead spans.NHSRCL said that the 36-metre-high and 480-metre-long bridge is being built parallel to the Western Railway’s Ahmedabad-Delhi main line between the Sabarmati and Ahmedabad high-speed stations. The site lies about a kilometre from the Sabarmati railway station and nearly 4km from the Ahmedabad railway station, making it a key section of the high-speed rail corridor as the bullet train is set to originate from Sabarmati station.Project officials said all eight circular piers, each with a diameter of 6 to 6.5 metres, have been finished. Four piers are located in the riverbed, two stand on the riverbanks, and two are beyond the banks. The piers rise between 31 and 34 metres, and the bridge design has been planned to reduce interference with the Sabarmati’s natural flow, said officials. The bridge will have five spans of 76m and two spans of 50m. Construction is being carried out for the spans. Officials said that three of five 76-metre spans have already been completed, while work continues on the remaining spans. Authorities are also ensuring that construction activities do not disrupt existing railway operations in the busy Ahmedabad section.
