FCC

DFCCIL Installs Longest Rail Flyover Girder at Kalamboli in Key Feat

2025-05-21

Demonstrating India's advancing engineering capabilities and its dedication to modernizing freight mobility, the Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) has successfully completed the installation of its longest rail flyover girder at Kalamboli. This milestone, situated on the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT)–Nilje section of the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), represents a significant achievement in the nation’s infrastructure development.

The open web steel girder, measuring an impressive 110.5 meters in length and weighing approximately 1,500 tons, is the largest ever installed by DFCCIL. The precision-focused installation involved a remarkable engineering feat: a 34-meter radial shift of the girder over active Indian Railways tracks, achieved without interrupting train operations. This complex procedure required the use of advanced heavy-lifting technology and careful coordination, highlighting the increasing technical expertise within India’s freight rail sector.

This engineering accomplishment reflects DFCCIL’s broader objective of transforming India’s freight transport system with an emphasis on safety, sustainability, and efficiency. Upon completion, the Kalamboli Rail Flyover is expected to enhance connectivity between JNPT—India’s busiest container port—and industrial centers in Maharashtra and beyond, resulting in faster cargo movement, reduced transit times, and better logistics performance.

The Kalamboli project forms part of the 1,500+ kilometer Western Dedicated Freight Corridor, which, along with its eastern counterpart, aims to ease congestion on India’s overburdened rail network. Together, these corridors are designed to support high-speed, high-capacity freight operations and encourage a shift away from carbon-intensive road transport, in alignment with the country’s climate objectives.

Experts have observed that milestones such as the Kalamboli girder installation represent more than just engineering achievements; they signify a strategic shift in India’s freight transport approach. Open web steel girders are engineered for durability and high load efficiency, enabling the support of heavier freight with lower maintenance requirements and a reduced environmental impact. With the expansion of India’s urban and industrial areas, the demand for climate-resilient, digitally integrated freight corridors is increasing, and the Kalamboli project is seen as a critical step towards this future.

Beyond the success of DFCCIL, this accomplishment also underscores India’s growing ability to deliver world-class infrastructure projects under challenging conditions. Each such milestone brings the country closer to establishing a modern, efficient, and sustainable logistics ecosystem.

News source: Logistics Insider