Landmark Track Slab Factory
A modern track slab manufacturing factory has been inaugurated near Surat to bolster the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail (MAHSR) project, India’s first bullet train initiative. Using advanced Japanese Shinkansen technology, this factory will produce high-capacity ballastless track slabs critical for ensuring the stability and efficiency of the rail system.
Strategically Located with Robust Production Capabilities
Situated in Kim Village near the project alignment, the factory benefits from its proximity to the bullet train construction site, enabling seamless logistics. Spanning 19 acres, including a 7-acre production area, the facility is designed to manufacture 120 slabs daily. These pre-cast reinforced concrete slabs, each weighing approximately 3.9 tonnes, will form the foundation of the 237 km track in Gujarat and Dadra and Nagar Haveli (part of the 508 km corridor). With a total output goal of 96,000 slabs, the factory ensures a steady supply to meet the project’s ambitious timeline.
Advanced Processes and Precision Engineering
The factory employs cutting-edge methods for slab production. Rebar cages are crafted using automated machinery and placed into moulds, followed by concrete pouring, compaction via vibrators, and steam curing. After initial curing and inspections, slabs undergo further wet curing for three days and reach full strength after 28 days. The facility’s storage capacity of 10,000 slabs ensures ready availability for transportation and installation.
Significant Progress and Expansion in Track Construction
As of November 2024, the factory has cast 9,775 slabs, with these being transported to track construction bases for installation. A similar facility in Anand, Gujarat, has already produced over 22,000 slabs, covering 110 track km. The MAHSR corridor will utilize the innovative J-Slab ballastless track system, designed for high-speed operations up to 320 kmph.
Advanced machinery such as track slab laying cars, rail feeder cars, and cement asphalt mortar injection cars are facilitating mechanized installation. With 35,000 MT of rails and specialized equipment already on-site, the project is progressing rapidly, with viaduct construction, station development, and tunnel works all underway.
India’s high-speed rail network is taking a giant leap forward, setting benchmarks in infrastructure and technological collaboration with Japan.
