Larsen & Toubro (L&T) has bagged another order from the National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) to construct 87.569 km (C6 Package) of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, commonly known as the Mumbai – Ahmedabad Bullet train project. In October, L&T had bagged the 237.1 km C4 Package or the of the same project. The two awards amount to a total of 63.86% of the total track length of the 508.17 km bullet train project.
The C4 package of the project is an elevated track from Zaroli Village in Maharashtra to Gujarat border and then to Vadodara Station through 4 stations at Vapi, Bilimora, Surat and Bharuch in Gujarat. The C 6 package runs elevated from the outskirts of Vadodara to the outskirts of Ahmedabad in Gujarat with one station at Anand / Nadiad.
In October, NHSRCL had invited bids to construct the 18.133 km Package C-7 of Mumbai – Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail. The scope of the package includes design and construction of civil and building works including testing and commissioning of double line High-Speed Railway involving Ahmedabad Station, Sabarmati Station, Viaduct & Bridges, Crossing Bridges (excluding fabrication and transportation of steel truss girders).
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail project will cover 155.76 km in the State of Maharashtra if permitted by the state government, 4.3 km in the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and 348.04 km in the State of Gujarat with 12 stations along the route. Upon completion, the High-Speed Rail will operate at a speed of 320 Kmph, covering the entire distance in approximately 2 hours with limited stops and in 3 hours with all stops.
The Indian bullet train project is partly financed by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The central government is hoping to open at least a portion, possibly the Gujarat section, of the project by August 2022, to coincide with 75 years of Independence. The project is considered wasteful by a section of Indians and the State of Maharashtra consider the project wasteful.