Pamban Rail Bridge Inaugurated in Rameswaram

Context

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban rail bridge, linking Rameswaram Island to Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu.

Key Highlights

• Built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited at a cost of ₹531 crore, the 2.07-km bridge has a 72.5-meter vertical elevated span that can be raised by 17 meters, considered ship movement while enhancing rail connectivity.
• Over the years, corrosion weakened the old bridge. In 2020, sensors had been mounted to monitor its fitness.
• However, by December 2022, the bridge was deemed past restore, leading to the suspension of train services.

Construction of the New Pamban Bridge

• In 2019, production of a new bridge began adjacent to the antique one, at a cost of ₹535 crore.
• Despite delays due to COVID-19 and rough sea conditions, the new bridge was finished in November 2024.
• The new Pamban bridge, spanning 2.08 kilometers, will extensively enhance connectivity to Rameswaram, a chief religious destination.

Old Pamban Bridge

• The 2.05-km long old Pamban bridge, an engineering marvel, served as the only transportation link between mainland Ramanathapuram and Rameswaram Island for over 70 years.
• It was completed in 1913 and featured a Scherzer rolling lift span, allowing ships to pass under.
• The bridge withstood a intense cyclone in 1964, which precipitated huge damage but was restored quickly.
• It was ultimately upgraded to a huge-gauge line in 2007.

Idea of Rail Connectivity Between India and Ceylon

• The idea of organising rail connectivity between India and Sri Lanka through Adam’s Bridge was first explored in 1876.
• Although proposals had been made in 1894 and 1895, the venture was abandoned because of high costs and insufficient site visitors.
• In 1906, the idea was revisited, leading to the development of the Pamban bridge, aimed at promoting tobacco trade between India and Sri Lanka.

Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge

• The Pamban bridge featured a Scherzer rolling carry span, patented by American engineer William Donald Scherzer.
• The lift span, which could be raised for ship navigation, was a key feature of the bridge.
• It was opened in 1914, and the bridge remained a vital transport direction till its structural deterioration in the 21st century.

Gauge Conversion and Strengthening

• During the gauge conversion in 2007, the bridge’s structure was bolstered to deal with vast-gauge trains.
• The Scherzer raise span was also reinforced to guide this development.

Modern Engineering Features

• The bridge is built with chrome steel reinforcement, high-grade paint, and fully welded joints, improving its sturdiness and lowering renovation needs.
• It is supported by using 333 piles and one zero one piers/pile caps, and its layout accommodates dual rail tracks with potential for destiny growth.
• The use of polysiloxane paint guarantees safety in opposition to corrosion inside the harsh marine surroundings.

Safety and Speed of Operations

• Trains on the new bridge can perform at speeds of as much as 80 km/h, although the bridge could support haste to 160 km/h.
• Due to a curvature near the Rameswaram cease, the speed has been appropriately limited to 80 km/h. The bridge is designed to safely function for a hundred years.
• Future of the Old Bridge
• The vintage bridge will quickly be dismantled, and parts of it will likely be preserved as a tribute to its historical significance.

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