Ministry of Railways Reports Launch of Five Heavy Portal Beams Over Active Tracks at Maninagar for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Project on 4 May 2026
The Railways Ministry said all five heavy portal beams for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project were launched over active tracks at Maninagar within 22 days. The beams weighed 1170 to 1360 tonnes and were placed using a 2200-tonne crawler crane. The work highlights complex high-speed rail engineering over operational railway lines.
pib.gov.in
Key Points for RAS
- All five heavy portal beams for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project were launched over the Amdavad-Vadodara railway line at Maninagar.
- The work was completed within 22 days and reported by the Ministry of Railways on 4 May 2026.
- The launching sequence took place on 8, 13, 19, 24 and 29 April 2026.
- Each beam weighed between 1170 and 1360 tonnes, with the heaviest launched on 8 April 2026.
- The alignment crosses active tracks at elevated level with constrained geometry and 30 to 34 metre spans between piers.
- A 2200-tonne crawler crane was used as the primary equipment, reportedly first such use over Indian railway tracks.
- Each beam was launched in about 3.5 hours, compared with earlier 9-hour blocks.
The Ministry of Railways reported on 4 May 2026 that all five precast-prestressed heavy portal beams for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project had been launched over the Amdavad-Vadodara railway line at Maninagar within 22 days. The work is significant because it was carried out above active Indian Railways tracks.
The launching sequence was completed on 8, 13, 19, 24 and 29 April 2026. The heaviest beam, weighing about 1360 tonnes, was launched on 8 April and was described as one of the heaviest lifts ever undertaken over operational railway lines. Each beam weighed between 1170 and 1360 tonnes, making the operation one of the most complex structural tasks executed on railway infrastructure.
At Maninagar, the bullet-train alignment crosses existing railway tracks at an elevated level with skewed and constrained geometry. The span between two piers is relatively large, around 30 to 34 metres, requiring a strong and rigid support system to transfer loads safely. The portal beams were designed to span multiple active tracks, including the Amdavad-Vadodara up, down and third lines. Their size and weight provide stability and minimal deflection, which are essential for precise high-speed rail alignment.
A 2200-tonne crawler crane was used as the primary equipment, reportedly for the first time in India over Indian railway tracks. Each beam was launched in about 3.5 hours, much faster than earlier 9-hour blocks, and the work was coordinated closely with Indian Railways. The operation dealt with limited space, overhead electrification and live tracks through high precision, safety checks and continuous monitoring. Each portal beam is a precast concrete structure 34 metres long, with a 5.5 metre by 4.5 metre cross-section.
Frequently Asked Questions
1 What was launched at Maninagar for the bullet train project?
Five precast-prestressed heavy portal beams were launched over the Amdavad-Vadodara railway line.
2 How long did the beam-launching work take?
All five beams were launched within 22 days, in a sequence completed on five dates in April 2026.
3 What was the weight range of the beams?
Each beam weighed between 1170 and 1360 tonnes, with the heaviest launched on 8 April 2026.
4 Why were portal beams needed at Maninagar?
The bullet train alignment crosses active tracks at elevated level with constrained geometry and a 30 to 34 metre gap between piers.
5 What equipment was used for the operation?
A 2200-tonne crawler crane was used as the primary equipment, with each beam launched in about 3.5 hours.
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