Moving a step further in the execution of India’s first high-speed rail project, the National High-Speed Rail Corporation has awarded a 1,390 crore contract for 28 bridges.
A consortium of L&T-IHI Infrastructure Systems won the contract for Procurement and Fabrication of 28 steel bridges (Superstructure) for crossing over railway lines, rivers, highways, road and other structures (P-4 Package) of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail line.
An estimated 70,000 MT of steel will be used for the fabrication of these steel bridges. Indian steel manufactures will be providing quality steel for the fabrication of super structures for these steel bridges. NHSRCL has already sensitized the Indian steel industries to cater such a huge demand for the India’s first High Speed Rail corridor.
NHSRCL has already awarded civil contracts for the construction of 64% of MAHSR alignment which includes five (5) HSR stations (Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand/Nadiad, Train depot at Surat and One Mountain Tunnel of 350 metres.
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4.5 km of steel bridges, 21 km tunnel
Much of the total length of 508 km of MAHSR will be on a viaduct. A 21 km long tunnel will be built near Mumbai. The viaduct will be mostly of concrete PSC box girders. However, where spans of more than 60 metres are needed, steel superstructures are being used.
The MAHSR alignment over viaduct (487km) will span over National Highways, Dedicated Fright Corridor Tracks (DFC), Indian Railways Tracks and rivers at many locations.
Indian fabricators to be handheld, trained to manufacture locally
In total, 28 steel bridges with individual spans varying from 60 meters to 130 meters will be constructed for the project. The length of all the steel bridges put together will be approximately 4.5 km and their construction would involve more than 70,000 tons of steel fabrication.
Work on the steel superstructure work was initially assigned to Japanese companies. This is because the bridges were required to be of high quality.
To promote Make-in-India, a committee comprising of experts from both Indian and Japanese side was formed in March 2019 and tasked with assessing the capability of Indian fabricators.
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After visiting various facilities and a detailed assessment, the committee decided that it may be possible to use Indian companies for the fabrication of the bridges with handholding and training where needed.
Robust, Feasible and Efficient framework for tender specification
For this purpose alone, a robust, feasible and efficient framework was stipulated in the tender specification for the fabrication of these bridges.
Many good practices followed in Japan have been incorporated in specifications and it has been made mandatory for the Indian fabricators involved in the work to engage at least one experienced international experts at each fabrication facility.
This has been done to ensure proper maintenance of quality and skill development at every step of the process. Similarly, the certification system for fabricators and welders has also been stipulated.
Specific Provisions included in tender document:
- Training & Certification of welders in Welding Research Institute (WRI), Trichy
- Independent Examining Body (IEB) with competence in testing, Inspection and certification
- Mandatory use of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) Machines for accuracy & Speed
- Engagement of International Experts, on continuous basis, by the contractor to ensure technical accuracy and quality management
- Specification including stricter tolerances for steel material & fabrication
- Implementation of Test regime (Quality Assurance Plan)
