Rail-Mounted Trolley Used for Virar-Dahanu Quadrupling Over Vaitarna River
Engineers working on the Rs 3,578-crore Virar-Dahanu railway quadrupling project are utilizing a rail-mounted roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) trolley to transport heavy construction materials across the marshy and inaccessible Vaitarna river stretch. Implemented by the Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC) under Mumbai Urban Transport Project Phase-3, the method allows materials such as concrete and earth to be moved via an existing Dedicated Freight Corridor Corporation of India Limited (DFCCIL) bridge, eliminating the need to build temporary access roads through wetlands.
The rail-based RO-RO trolley measures 8 metres by 3 metres and features a working capacity of 50 tons, with a theoretical capacity of 70 tons. By bypassing temporary road construction—which typically requires excavation, earth filling, and compaction—the approach reduces environmental impact and protects the Vaitarna riverbed and surrounding marshlands from heavy vehicle movement.
As part of the quadrupling initiative, two new broad-gauge railway bridges are being constructed over the Vaitarna river. Bridge 92 spans 628 metres, while Bridge 93 measures 515 metres. Together, they will support four broad-gauge tracks designed to handle a 25-ton axle load. To manage the soft, waterlogged soil, engineers are using prefabricated vertical drains to speed up ground consolidation. Structural components are cast at centralized yards and moved by trolley, while custom gantries facilitate deep pile-boring despite restricted access.
Once completed, the project will segregate suburban local train operations from long-distance Mail and Express services to improve punctuality, operational efficiency, and safety. The quadrupling project is currently 50 percent complete, with 88 percent of earthwork finished and more than 50 bridges and road underbridges built. Nine stations—Virar, Vaitarna, Saphale, Kelve Road, Palghar, Umroli, Boisar, Vangaon, and Dahanu Road—are also being redeveloped as part of the project.
