Published Date: 25-01-2021
“Make in India” Steel Bridges will boost Indian steel industry and allied industries
National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) has awarded the contract for procurement and fabrication of 28 steel bridges (superstructure) for crossing over railway lines, rivers, highways, roads, and other structures (P-4 Package) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail Corridor today.
The contract, valued at INR 1390 Cr, has been awarded to Larson & Toubro – IHI Infrastructure Systems (Consortium), a collaboration of Indian and Japanese companies.
It is estimated that about 70,000 MT of steel will be used for the fabrication of these steel bridges, giving a significant boost to Indian steel industries and their allied supply chains. Indian steel manufacturers will provide quality steel for the fabrication of superstructures. NHSRCL has already sensitized the Indian steel industries to cater to such a huge demand for India’s first High Speed Rail corridor.
NHSRCL has already awarded civil contracts for the construction of 64% of the MAHSR alignment, which includes five HSR stations (Vapi, Billimora, Surat, Bharuch, Anand/Nadiad), a train depot at Surat, and one mountain tunnel of 350 metres.
Additional Information:
- Out of the total length of 508 km, a maximum stretch of the MAHSR will be covered by viaducts, excluding the 21 km long tunnel near Mumbai.
- The MAHSR alignment over viaduct (487 km) will span over National Highways, Dedicated Freight Corridor tracks, Indian Railways tracks, and rivers at multiple locations.
- Most of the viaducts are being made of concrete (PSC box, girder), but for spans exceeding 60 meters, steel superstructures have been planned, as PSC structures become heavy beyond a point.
Decision to include the fabrication of steel bridges by Indian companies:
A total of 28 steel bridges, with spans ranging from 60 to 130 meters, will be constructed. The combined length of these bridges will be approximately 4.5 km, involving more than 70,000 tons of steel fabrication. Initially, the work was assigned to Japan Lead (JV) companies, but under the “Make in India” initiative, NHSRCL explored opening the fabrication to Indian companies.
A High-Power Committee, comprising experts from India and Japan (NHSRCL, India Experts, and JRTT), was formed in March 2019 to assess Indian fabricators’ capabilities and recommend improvements to meet Japanese and global HSR standards. The committee visited factories in India and Japan to ensure infrastructure, quality control, skilled manpower, and previous experience met high standards.
The committee concluded that Indian companies could achieve the required quality with proper training, exposure, and support from experienced professionals.
Robust, Feasible and Efficient Framework for Tender Specification:
To ensure quality and skill development, a robust framework was included in the tender specification, incorporating best practices from Japan. Key provisions include:
- Training & certification of welders at Welding Research Institute (WRI), Trichy
- Independent Examining Body (IEB) with competence in testing, inspection, and certification
- Mandatory use of Computerized Numerical Control (CNC) machines for accuracy and speed
- Engagement of international experts on a continuous basis to ensure technical accuracy and quality management
- Specifications including stricter tolerances for steel material and fabrication
- Implementation of test regime (Quality Assurance Plan)
Make in India:
Opening steel fabrication to Indian companies will reduce costs and strengthen the “Make in India” initiative. It will enhance the skills of Indian technicians, paving the way for a “Make for World” approach, and position Indian companies as capable of delivering high-quality, cost-effective steel products globally.