By Arun Kumar Das
New Delhi, Jul 8 (BVI): Expediting the bullet train project, the NHSRCL has completed the bridge on the Daman Ganga River in Valsad district of Gujarat. This is the sixteenth river bridge completed out of the planned 21 river bridges in Gujarat for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train project.
The ambitious bullet train project is expected to be operational by 2030.
The Daman Ganga River originates from Sahyadri hills near Valveri village of Nasik district in Maharashtra. It flows for about 131 kilometers, passing through Maharashtra, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman before draining into the Arabian Sea.
There are a total 25 river bridges including five in Valsad being constructed along the entire corridor.
The Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail alignment in Valsad is 56 km (including 4.3 km in Dadra & Nagar Haveli) starting from Zaroli village and ending at Vagaldhara village.
The alignment includes Vapi Bullet Train station, a tunnel of 350 metre, five river bridges and one PSC bridge (210 m).
Salient features of the river bridge:
Length: 360 meters
Consists of 9 Full Span Girders (40 meters each)
Height of Pier – 19 m to 29 m
Consists of one circular pier of 4 m, one of 5 m and 8 of 5.5 m diameter
This bridge is in between Boisar and Vapi Bullet Train station. Another river bridge that has already been completed between these two stations is Darotha river bridge.
The river is around 1 km from Vapi Bullet Train station and 61 km from Boisar Bullet Train station.
Other river bridges completed in Valsad district are Auranga (320 m), Par (320 m), Kolak (160 m) and Darotha (80 m).
The river is a crucial source of water for drinking, irrigation, and industrial use. Industrial towns like Vapi, Dadra and Silvassa are situated on its banks. The Madhuban Dam, built on the river, is a major water resource project that benefits Gujarat, DNH and Daman & Diu, providing water for irrigation, water supply, and power generation.
