A construction mishap at a bullet train project site near Ahmedabad late Sunday night has thrown rail services into disarray, with a segmental launching gantry skidding off its position and obstructing an adjacent railway line. The incident, which occurred around 11 pm in Vatva, led to the cancellation of at least 25 trains, partial cancellation of 15 others, rescheduling of five, and diversion of six, according to railway officials.
The National High Speed Rail Corporation (NHSRCL), overseeing the bullet train project, reported no casualties or damage to the erected structure. The gantry, used to position concrete girders for a viaduct, slipped while retracting after completing its task, affecting the nearby railway line. NHSRCL officials, alongside police and fire services, are at the scene, coordinating restoration efforts with heavy-duty road cranes to clear the obstruction and resume normal train operations.
The Ahmedabad railway division confirmed that the disruption primarily impacted the down line between Vatva and Ahmedabad stations. “Efforts are ongoing to restore the affected line and minimize inconvenience to passengers,” an official stated. A helpline number has been issued to assist affected travelers.
In a statement, NHSRCL explained, “On 23/03/2025, around 11 pm, one of the Segmental Launching gantry used for viaduct construction in Vatva (near Ahmedabad) was retracting after completing launching of concrete girder. It accidentally skid from its position, affecting the adjoining railway line in the vicinity.” The corporation emphasized that senior officials are closely monitoring the situation.
Among the fully cancelled trains are the Vatva-Borivali Express, Ahmedabad-Mumbai Central Express, Vadodara-Vatva Intercity, Ahmedabad-Valsad Gujarat Queen, Jamnagar-Vadodara Intercity, Vadnagar-Valsad-Vadnagar Express, and Vatva-Anand MEMU. Trains such as the Ahmedabad-MGR Chennai Central Humsafar Express and Rajkot-Secunderabad Express were rescheduled, while others faced partial cancellations or diversions.
Railway authorities are working against the clock to clear the line, but the incident has underscored the challenges of coordinating large-scale infrastructure projects like the bullet train with existing rail networks. Passengers have been advised to check updates from the railway division as restoration efforts continue.