Mumbai Metro Line 5 Achieves Major Milestone With 65-Metre Steel Span Launched Over Vasai-Diva Rail Track

In a major feat for Mumbai Metro Line 5, MMRDA has successfully launched a 65-metre-long steel span over the busy Vasai-Diva railway track for the Thane-Bhiwandi segment of the metro corridor, Indian Express reported.

Erected at Anjurphata in Bhiwandi, the steel span crosses the busy Vasai-Diva railway line—marking a key engineering milestone for the Metro-5 corridor within the MMR.

The 456-metric-ton steel bridge, an open web girder links two metro piers over the tracks of the Central Railway, just between Kharbav and Bhiwandi stations.

It is 20 metres high above the ground and constitutes part of a larger viaduct that will carry Metro Line 5.

When completed, the 24.9 km line will connect Thane with Kalyan via Bhiwandi, with 17 stations.

The line will feature an elevated alignment except for a 3-km underground stretch in Bhiwandi.

The construction was conducted by an intricate overnight operation, with coordination between MMRDA, Central Railway, and traffic police.

With space constraints and an active railway line below, the execution demanded precision under strict safety protocols.

“The site was very tricky because there were several layers of activity like the road at ground level, live railways above it, and then the over-lying metro structure on top. Carrying out this type of work needed to be well-planned, cleared by several authorities, and coordinated in real time,” an MMRDA official was quoted as saying by IE.

Massive cranes, temporary structural supports, rollers, and jacks were used by the engineers to slide the huge girder into position. Traffic diversion and blocks placed on the rail line were done to provide protection during the movement.

“In spite of the complexity, the team was able to execute the span installation without any hiccups. The rest of the work on this section including bearing placement and casting of the deck slab is likely to be completed by April 24,” the official added.

The Central Railway has allocated eight power blocks to enable this.

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