Ahmedabad, March 24 – A construction accident involving the segmental launching gantry used for the bullet train project near Ahmedabad disrupted railway operations on nearby lines late Sunday night, leading to the cancellation, rescheduling, and diversion of numerous trains. The incident occurred around 11 PM in Vatva, on the outskirts of the city, as per agency report.
The National High-Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) confirmed that the launching gantry, which was being used to install concrete girders for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train corridor, accidentally shifted from its position while being retracted after completing a segment. Fortunately, no casualties were reported, and no damage was caused to existing infrastructure.
According to officials from the Ahmedabad Railway Division, at least 25 trains were fully cancelled, 15 trains were partially cancelled, six were diverted, and five were rescheduled due to the obstruction on the down line between Vatva and Ahmedabad stations. Affected services include prominent routes such as the Vatva-Borivali Express, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Express, Vadodara-Vatva Intercity, Ahmedabad-Valsad Gujarat Queen, Jamnagar-Vadodara Intercity, and the Vatva-Anand MEMU, among others.
NHSRCL stated that cranes and other heavy machinery are being used to remove the gantry and restore normal rail traffic. Senior officials from NHSRCL, local police, and fire services are on-site to monitor the situation and ensure safety.
Meanwhile, trains like the Ahmedabad-Majithia Chennai Central Humsafar Express and the Rajkot-Secunderabad Express were among those rescheduled. Railway authorities have set up a dedicated helpline to assist passengers affected by the disruption.
Efforts are underway to clear the impacted railway section and resume regular operations at the earliest.
