Excelsior Correspondent
RAMANATHAPURAM, TAMIL NADU, Jan 30: The reconstruction of the Pamban Railway Bridge, which connects the Indian mainland to Rameswaram Island, is almost complete.
As per a statement, the Southern Railway Project, which began in February 2019, is expected to be finished by November 2024.
Originally built in 1914 for Metre Gauge traffic and later converted for Broad Gauge in 2007, the old bridge served for over a century.
The new bridge will feature advanced technology, including an electro-mechanical navigational span system for smoother ship passage, replacing the outdated manual lifting system.
The new bridge, spanning 2.10 km, is being built at a cost of Rs 531 crore and rests on 333 piles reaching 38 meters below the seabed.
It will have 99 spans of 18.30 meters and a central span of 72.50 meters. The bridge’s vertical lift mechanism will raise up to 17 meters in just 5 minutes and 30 seconds, allowing ships to pass through while trains run at speeds of up to 75 km/h.
Designed to accommodate future double-line electrification, the bridge uses 5772 MT of stainless steel reinforcement and 4500 MT of structural steel for added strength and durability. A special anti-corrosion coating protects it from the harsh marine environment.
The new Pamban Railway Bridge will significantly improve connectivity to Rameswaram, boosting economic growth and tourism in the region.
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