A 480-metre-long bridge now spans the Sabarmati River as part of the Bullet Train project. (Image: NHSRCL)Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has completed the 480-metre-long bridge over the Sabarmati River in Ahmedabad as part of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project.The bridge stands around 36 metres high, which is equal to the height of a 12-storey building. It is one of the major structures of the bullet train corridor in Ahmedabad.The bridge is located between the Sabarmati and Ahmedabad bullet train stations, around 1 km from Sabarmati station and 4 km from Ahmedabad station. The newly completed Sabarmati River bridge stands around 36 metres above the ground. (Image: NHSRCL)Sabarmati bullet train bridge stands 36 metres highThe Sabarmati bullet train bridge has been designed to cross the Sabarmati River while also maintaining the required clearance from existing infrastructure in the area.The Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train alignment passes through several existing structures, including railway lines, flyovers, bridges and metro corridors.The nearby Ahmedabad–Delhi railway line is around 14.8 metres above ground level. According to NHSRCL, because of the existing infrastructure and the required clearance, the piers of the Sabarmati River bridge were designed with greater height.Sabarmati River Bridge has 8 large piersThe Sabarmati River bridge is supported by eight circular piers, with diameters ranging from 6 to 6.5 metres.Of the eight piers:Story continues below this adFour are located inside the riverbedTwo are on the riverbanks, one on each sideTwo are outside the riverbanksThe placement of the piers has been planned to reduce obstruction to the river’s waterway. The Sabarmati River bridge connects a key section of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor. (Image: NHSRCL)Longer spans reduce piers in the river: NHSRCLUnlike many other river bridges on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, which generally have spans of around 40 metres, the Sabarmati bridge uses longer spans of 50 to 76 metres.The bridge has:Five spans of 76 metres eachTwo spans of 50 metres eachUsing longer spans helped reduce the number of piers required inside the riverbed.Construction of Sabarmati River bridgeThe Sabarmati River bridge on bullet train corridor was constructed using the Balanced Cantilever Method, which is used for long-span bridges over rivers and deep waterways.Story continues below this adUnder this method, the bridge deck is built outward from the piers in balanced sections. This allows construction without installing conventional support structures underneath the entire bridge deck.The segments were cast at the construction site and then joined using post-tensioning. Each span consists of 23 segments, with construction requiring precision engineering and quality checks at different stages. The 12-storey-tall Sabarmati River bridge is among the major structures of the bullet train project. (Image: NHSRCL)18 of 21 Gujarat river bridges completedThe Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor will have 25 river bridges in total. Of these: 21 are in Gujarat and 4 are in Maharashtra. With the completion of the Sabarmati River bridge, 18 of the 21 planned river bridges in Gujarat have now been completed.Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More