Pamban Bridge
Pamban Bridge | ||
---|---|---|
tracks 1 | | |
Track gauge | Broad gauge | |
History | ||
Construction start | 1911 | |
Construction end | 1914 | |
Opened | 1915 | |
Closed | 23 December 2022 | |
Replaced by | New Pamban Bridge | |
Statistics | ||
Daily traffic | Suspended | |
Location | ||
Pamban Bridge (pronounced:
The Pamban bridge was the only surface transport link that connected Rameswaram to the mainland India till 1988 when a road bridge was constructed parallel to the railway bridge. In 2020, construction of a new bridge closer to the existing one began which was planned to eventually replace the existing bridge. In December 2022, rail transportation on the bridge was suspended permanently as the bascule section had weakened significantly due to corrosion.
History
Plans for a bridge to connect to mainland was suggested in 1870 as the British Administration sought ways to increase trade with
The bridge was damaged during the 1964 Rameswaram cyclone and required extensive repair work.[4] The adjacent road bridge was opened in 1988.[1][5] In 2009, further strengthening work was carried out on the bridge under the supervision of E. Sreedharan to enable it to withstand heavier freight trains.[6][7] On 13 January 2013, the bridge required repair work to the piers after suffering a minor damage from a naval barge.[8][9] In 2016, the Ministry of Railways sanctioned ₹25 crore (US$3.1 million) to replace the existing 65.23 metres (214.0 ft) long rolling type span with a 66 metres (217 ft) long single truss span which could be opened automatically.[10] In December 2018, train movement was halted to carry out repairs when a fissure was noticed on one of the spans and rail movement on the bridge was restored in March 2019.[11][12]
In 2020, Government of India announced that a new railway bridge will be constructed near the old Pamban Bridge at a cost of ₹250 crore (US$31 million).[13] In December 2022, rail transportation on the bridge was suspended permanently as the bascule section had weakened significantly due to corrosion and in February 2023, the Indian Railways announced that the train traffic to Rameshwaram would be restored once the new bridge is completed.[14]
Location
The Pamban railway bridge spans a 2.06 km (1.28 mi) wide strait between the Indian mainland and Rameswaram Island. The mainland end of the bridge is located at 9°16′56.70″N 79°11′20.12″E / 9.2824167°N 79.1889222°E. The bridge is located in a corrosive marine environment, making its maintenance a challenging job. The location is also a cyclone-prone, high-wind-velocity zone.[15]
Design
The railway bridge is located 12.5 m (41 ft) above sea level and is 6,776 ft (2,065 m) long.
Rail transport
A
See also
- Mahatma Gandhi Setu
- Vikhroli-Koparkhairane Link Road
- Bandra-Worli Sea Link
- List of longest bridges in the world
- List of longest bridges above water in India
References
- ^ a b c "Pamban bridge: 10 awesome facts about India's first sea bridge". The Economic Times.
- ISBN 978-1-4729-2483-4.
- ^ "Pamban bridge: 10 awesome facts about India's first sea bridge - Pamban bridge: India's first sea bridge". The Economic Times. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ The Story of The Deities and The Temples in Southern Indian Peninsula. Trilochan Dash. p. 178.
- ^ Datta, Rangan (1 February 2023). "Rameswaram: A holy island town along India's southern borderland". My Kolkata. The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ "Delhi's Subway Builder". Forbes. 1 May 2009. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Strengthening of Pamban Railway Bridge". The Hindu. 17 July 2010. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Ship collides into century-old rail bridge". NDTV. 13 January 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Repair work on Pamban bridge fast progressing". The Hindu. 16 January 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Principal Chief Engineer inspects Pamban rail bridge". The Hindu. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Trains to Rameswaram cancelled due to repair work on Pamban". The Times of India. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ "Train Services from Rameswaram to Mandapam Suspended due to Crack in Pamban Bridge". Press108. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ "Ministry of Railways confirms New Bridge in Pamban". Press108. 25 December 2018. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 4 February 2023.
- ^ a b c T.E., Raja Simhan (21 November 2003). "Pamban Bridge to be pulled down for gauge conversion". The Hindu. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
- ^ Sri Raman, Papri (11 August 2007). "Bridge of memories – and to Rameswaram – reopens". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 1 December 2023.
- ^ Jethwa, Raja Pawan (2007). "Section II: Mileage wise available Details of Railway lines laid". Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj: A brief History & Glory of our fore-fathers. pp. 63–70.
- ^ Datta, Rangan (21 June 2022). "In pictures: At the edge of India in Dhanuskodi". My Kolkata. The Telegraph. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
- ^ Jaishankar, C (17 July 2006). "Their sentiment to metre gauge train is unfathomable". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 27 October 2007. Retrieved 1 December 2006.