Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) announced the successful completion of a significant milestone in the construction of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) in Surat, Gujarat.
This achievement involves the installation of all four open web girders on a complex and major bridge.
The bridge is positioned above the Surat-Kamrej highway, a highly busy road running through the densely populated area of Laskan village in Surat.
Designated as Bridge 236 within the WDFC, it falls along the alignment between the New Udhna and New Gothangam stations of the WDFC route.
The bridge itself consists of a total of four open web steel girders, with two spans measuring 49 metres each and two longer spans of 72.6 metres. The cumulative weight of these girders amounts to approximately 1,548 metric tonnes.
According to Manish Gupta, the General Manager of Coordination at DFCCIL in Vadodara, this remarkable achievement was made possible through meticulous planning and dedicated effort, reports Times Of India.
All four girders, including the necessary temporary structures, were assembled, erected, and successfully launched within an impressive three-month timeframe.
The launch work was conducted under a four-hour daily road traffic block for a duration of 15 days. The Surat district and local police administration provided invaluable support in executing this challenging task.
To ensure the safety of the workforce, regular safety counselling sessions for the workers, the provision of safety equipment, and ample floodlights for nighttime operations were implemented at the site.
This comprehensive approach underscores the commitment to both efficiency and safety in the construction of this vital infrastructure project.
Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC)
The Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC) aims to create a high-capacity freight railway corridor that connects the key industrial and economic centres of the northern and western regions of the country.
WDFC is designed to significantly enhance the transportation of goods, reduce logistical bottlenecks, and boost the efficiency and competitiveness of industries in the region.
Spanning over 1,500 kilometres, the WDFC connects the states of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Maharashtra, facilitating the movement of goods across this vast expanse.
This corridor is instrumental in reducing the burden on the existing railway network, which is predominantly used for passenger traffic, by providing a dedicated route for freight transportation.
The WDFC is a key component of India’s efforts to streamline its transportation and logistics network, promoting trade, industrial development, and economic progress in the western and northern regions of the country.