India is working on its first ballastless track system for the bullet train project connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The bullet train, having a speed barrier of 320 kmph, has made notable advancements.On Thursday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to X to share a video of the projects progress. In the video, he revealed the completion of 295.5 km of piers and 153 km of viaducts for the bullet train route between Mumbai and Ahmedabad.Functioning of J-slab ballastless track system According to media reports, a new type of track called slab track, which doesnt need ballast, is gaining popularity in some countries for high-speed railways. In India, the J-slab ballastless track system is being introduced for the first time. This innovative system includes pre-cast track slabs fitted precisely with fastening devices and rails.As per National High-Speed Rail Corporation Ltd. (NHSRCL), this slab sits on top of the RC track bed, which is about 300mm thick and is built directly at the site for each separate UP and Down track line on the viaduct. To make sure it stays stable, the RC track bed is 2420 mm wide.Bharats first ballastless track for #BulletTrain !✅320 kmph speed threshold✅153 km of viaduct completed✅295.5 km of pier work completedMore to come in Modi 3.0 pic.twitter.com/YV6vP4tbXS— Ashwini Vaishnaw (मोदी का परिवार) (@AshwiniVaishnaw) March 28, 2024Railway Minister shares insightsWhile speaking at an Award Ceremony, the Railway Minister stated, When we talk about the bullet trains, its important to consider how it integrates economies. In the first route being developed by Indian railways, places like Mumbai, Thane, Vapi, Baroda, Surat, Anand, and Ahmedabad will essentially merge into a single economy. This means you could have breakfast in Surat, conduct your business in Mumbai, and return with your family at night, all seamlessly connected.The estimated cost of the project is 1.08 lakh crores, where the Centre will fund Rs 10,000 crores, while Gujarat and Maharashtra will contribute Rs 5,000 crores each. The remaining will be taken through a loan from Japan, with an incredibly low-interest rate of just 0.1 percent.
