Bridge No. 624, constructed in 1913 during the British era, is a crucial link on this heavily trafficked route. The re-girdering involved replacing eight steel open-web girders, each 67.5 metres long and weighing approximately 320 tonnes. The project utilized 600-tonne and 800-tonne road crawler cranes to safely execute the replacement while minimizing disruption to train operations.
Divisional Railway Manager Raju Bhadke described the work as a landmark engineering feat, highlighting the technical expertise, innovation, and teamwork involved. The task was completed within the scheduled timeframe despite complexities such as the perennial water flow of the Mahisagar River.
The project was carried out in two phases over one year. The first phase replaced six central spans with the help of two 600-tonne crawler cranes equipped with 200-tonne super-lift systems. To support crane operations within the riverbed, a 30-metre-wide artificial sand platform was constructed using a custom-built sand-pumping system mounted on boats.
The second phase involved replacing the remaining two end spans. Due to limited space, engineers used a single 800-tonne crawler crane with a 300-tonne super-lift arrangement. This approach ensured safety, reduced costs, and minimized the need for traffic and power blocks.
According to Western Railway officials, this is the first time girders of such size have been replaced on an active railway track using road crawler cranes, making the Mahisagar bridge project a significant milestone in Indian railway engineering.
