Mumbai: The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has awarded a major contract to infrastructure giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) for the construction of 156 route kilometers (RKM) of high-speed ballastless track between Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) and Zaroli village in Gujarat. This comes under Package T1 of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor — India’s first bullet train project.
The contract was issued on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis, covering the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of track works.
Underground and Elevated Track Sections Included
The awarded section includes:
- Over 21 km of underground track (linked to civil packages C1 and C2)
- Approximately 135 km of elevated viaduct track (related to civil package C3)
This is the second track-work package awarded to L&T in the MAHSR project. In April 2022, NHSRCL had earlier entrusted L&T with Package T3, involving 116 km of track between south of Vadodara and Sabarmati Depot in Gujarat. With the addition of Package T1, L&T now holds responsibility for more than 50% of the track works along the corridor.
High-Speed Japanese Track Technology to Be Used
The project will deploy the Japanese Shinkansen J Slab Track System, enabling:
- Train speeds up to 320 km/h
- Enhanced ride quality
- Longer track lifespan
- Lower maintenance requirements
This advanced technology is being introduced in India to match global high-speed rail standards and ensure long-term efficiency.
L&T’s Track Record in Ballastless Track Systems
L&T has built a strong reputation in ballastless track systems, currently executing similar work across metro rail projects in:
- Mumbai
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Jakarta (Indonesia)
Its expertise spans various technologies, including Floating Slab Track, Precast Slab Track, Low Vibration Track, and Plinth Track.
Company Statement
Commenting on the award, Mr. S. V. Desai, Whole-time Director & Senior EVP (Civil Infrastructure) at L&T, said:
“Our success in the T3 package was driven by rapid technology absorption, indigenisation of plant and machinery, and strong value engineering. These strengths will guide our approach to this new package, and we are confident of delivering it on time.”
About MAHSR Project
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail corridor is India’s first bullet train project, spanning approximately 508 km. It aims to significantly cut travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad while introducing world-class rail technology to the country. The project is being executed by NHSRCL with technical collaboration from Japan.
About NHSRCL
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) is a special purpose vehicle established by the Indian government in 2016 to finance, construct, maintain, and manage high-speed rail corridors in India. As a public company with equity participation from the Central Government (Ministry of Railways) and the state governments of Gujarat and Maharashtra, NHSRCL is responsible for executing the high-speed rail project, including the Mumbai–Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor.
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