The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor achieved a major engineering feat on April 8, 2026. National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) successfully launched a 1360-ton girder near Maninagar in Gujarat. The entire process was completed in a record time of 3.5 hours, showing a significant leap in project execution speed compared to previous methods that took up to nine hours.
Key technical details of the record-breaking installation
The operation involved handling one of the heaviest precast portal beams in India. These beams are designed to support the bullet train tracks over existing railway infrastructure. The technical parameters of the operation are listed below:
| Parameter | Details |
|---|---|
| Weight of Girder | 1360 Metric Tons |
| Location | Maninagar, Gujarat (Ahmedabad-Vadodara Section) |
| Time Taken | 3.5 Hours |
| Height of Installation | 15 Meters |
| Girder Dimensions | 34m Length x 5.5m Width x 4.5m Depth |
How did NHSRCL manage the heavy lift over active tracks?
The installation took place over the active Ahmedabad-Vadodara railway line of Western Railway. To minimize the impact on regular train traffic, NHSRCL used a 2200-ton crawler crane as the primary lifting equipment. This was supported by a 260-ton standby crane and an 80-ton auxiliary crane. Meticulous planning allowed the team to avoid long-duration caution orders that would have otherwise lasted for several months. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared the update on social media, noting that this method significantly reduces the block time required for complex civil works. Four more such beams are planned for installation in the Maninagar station area in the coming months.