Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train: Viaduct Works Gain Momentum in Vadodara With Track Slab Installation And CAM Injection

In a significant milestone for the the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project, the track slab installation and Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM) injection has commenced on the viaducts in Gujarat's Vadodara.

"Major progress unfolds in Vadodara, Gujarat, as viaduct works pick up pace with track slab installation and Cement Asphalt Mortar Injection, driving the Bullet Train project forward with unwavering momentum and precision," the Ministry of Railways said on Sunday (1 June).

According to NHSRCL, the implementing agency for the high-speed rail corridor, around 160 km of track bed construction has been completed in Gujarat.

Additionally, over 39,500 precast track slabs have been cast—covering nearly 197 track km in total.

A key milestone in the track installation phase has been the Flash Butt Welding (FBW) of 25-metre-long, 60 kg rails into 200-metre panels at various Track Construction Bases (TCBs).

With four Flash Butt Welding Machines currently operational, more than 1,543 such panels—translating to over 154 track km—have been welded so far.

NHSRCL said that the track installation process is mechanised with cutting edge machinery designed and manufactured in India

entire track laying process is being carried out using high-end, indigenous machinery under the 'Make in India' initiative.

These Make in India fleet of track construction machinery includes:

• Rail Feeder Cars (RFC): These carry 200-metre rail panels and lay temporary tracks on the reinforced concrete (RC) beds. Operating RFCs in Surat and Anand have already helped lay nearly 78 track km of temporary tracks.

• Track Slab Laying Cars (SLC): Deployed in Bilimora and Vadodara, these machines can transport and place up to five precast slabs at a time onto the viaduct.

• CAM Injection Cars: These machines, also stationed in Bilimora and Vadodara, mix and inject CAM under the slabs to maintain the precise alignment and elevation of the tracks.

The 508 Km Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, also known as the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project, will pass through the states of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.

The project has 12 stations planned at Mumbai, Thane, Virar, Boisar, Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bhaurach, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad and Sabarmati.

According to the NHRSCL, around 300 km of viaducts have been completed on the bullet train corridor.

Of the 300 km of viaduct superstructure completed, 257.4 km was built using the Full Span Launching Method (FSLM)—known for its speed and efficiency—while 37.8 km used the Span by Span (SBS) technique.

The rest includes 0.9 km of steel bridges across 7 sites, 1.2 km of precast PSC bridges, and 2.7 km within station buildings.

The FSLM method accounted for 6,455 spans, each 40 metres long, while SBS involved 925 similar spans.

This rapid construction was enabled by the use of full-span girders weighing 970 metric tons each—installed nearly ten times faster than traditional segmental methods.

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