L&T Wins Contract to Construct 157 Km Bullet Train Track in Maharashtra

In a major step forward for India’s ambitious bullet train project, a key contract for laying the tracks within Maharashtra has been awarded to an Indian company. The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has signed an agreement with infrastructure giant Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to design, supply, and construct the track for a significant 157-kilometer stretch.

This new contract covers the entire double-line alignment from the upcoming Mumbai Bullet Train station to the Zaroli village on the Maharashtra-Gujarat border. The work also includes constructing the tracks for four stations and a new rolling stock depot in Thane.

This award means that all the major track-laying contracts for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor (MAHSR) have now been given to Indian firms. This is a significant boost for the country’s engineering capabilities, as it transfers crucial expertise in cutting-edge high-speed rail technology to domestic companies.

“Work on the track in Gujarat is already moving fast, with over 200 km of viaduct ready for track to be laid,” a project official noted. “Now, with this contract for Maharashtra, we are ensuring a seamless push towards completion.”

The project is using a sophisticated Japanese “ballast-less” slab track system, famous for its smoothness and stability on the Shinkansen network. This isn’t your typical railway track; it’s a high-tech system made of a reinforced concrete track bed, a special cushioning layer called Cement Asphalt Mortar (CAM), pre-cast concrete slabs, and then the rails themselves.

To master this complex technology, Indian engineers and technicians have undergone extensive training from Japanese experts. Under a special program with the Japan Railway Technical Service (JARTS), over 436 personnel have already been certified in advanced techniques in Gujarat. A similar training initiative is planned for the team working on this new Maharashtra stretch.

The overall progress on the project is substantial. As of early September, viaduct construction has been completed over 320 km, with pier work extending even further. Key river and mountain tunnel projects are underway, and station construction in Gujarat is at an advanced stage.

This latest contract keeps the momentum going, bringing India one step closer to its first-ever bullet train journey.