Construction Mirror Article detail

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has requested Western Railways to suspend train operations for three hours daily in Vadodara over a 37-day period to facilitate the construction of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, as reported by The Indian Express. NHSRCL, the agency overseeing the Rs 1.08 lakh crore Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR), plans to begin this critical phase of construction in March, with a completion deadline set for December 2025.

Key Construction Adjustments & Cost Savings

The temporary rail traffic suspension will allow for the installation of a viaduct over the main passenger line, ensuring smooth progress on the 508-km corridor. This section, part of the 8-km “C5 package” through Vadodara, has been strategically realigned to minimize disruptions in high-traffic zones like Kadak Bazaar and to prevent crane boom movements from affecting airport flight paths. This optimized design has resulted in a cost saving of Rs 2,000 crore, reducing expenses from the total project budget of Rs 1,08,000 crore.

Structural Highlights of the Corridor

The elevated section in Vadodara will include 32 spans crossing railway lines. Half of these spans will be constructed over the passenger route, while the rest will be built over the freight corridor. With Western Railways granting in-principle approval for the daytime construction blocks, NHSRCL is gearing up for a major milestone in India’s first bullet train project. The completion of the Gujarat segment will be a crucial step toward achieving high-speed rail connectivity between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.