Mumbai Metro Line 6’s boldest move yet: 42-metre steel span placed over live tracks

A key engineering milestone was achieved on the under-construction Metro Line 6 between Ram Mandir and Jogeshwari, where work was carried out right over active Western Railway tracks under strict safety conditions.

Engineers managed to construct a critical pier in a highly constrained section between the up-through and down-through railway lines, with trains continuing to run and work allowed only in limited night windows.

In the early hours of Sunday, a 42-metre steel composite span was successfully launched over Western Railway tracks, marking an important step in the Metro Line 6 project.

To carry out the operation, Western Railway imposed a major night block between Ram Mandir and Jogeshwari, allowing engineers to safely execute the girder launch.

The operation saw the use of massive machinery, including a 600-ton crane, two 500-ton cranes, standby cranes, hydras, JCBs, a material lifter and tower wagons.

The block included a three-hour traffic and overhead equipment restriction on the 6th line, along with a 10-hour block for crane stabling that continued till Sunday morning.

Around 110 personnel, including railway staff and contractor teams, were deployed for the coordinated execution of the steel girder launch.

Officials said nearly 88% of civil work on the 14.5km Metro Line 6 has been completed, which includes 13 stations and a depot at Kanjurmarg.

The entire operation was carried out through close coordination between MMRDA and Western Railway, ensuring safe execution over an active suburban rail network.