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Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram
Rameshwaram is a beautiful place in scenic locations, as we all know. However, this location also has a lot of historical and mythological legends attached to it. But we will be discussing the engineering marvel located at this spot today. The area is the Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram, India’s first-ever sea bridge. It was also the longest sea link bridge till 2010. However, after much maintenance, construction, and reconstruction, the New Pamban Bridge is also set to open. In that situation, you must know everything about the Old Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram and the new bridge.
So keep reading this article, as I will mention everything you need to know about the Rameshwaram Pamban Bridge. This will be an informative, educational and helpful article if you want to learn more about this bridge.
Location
Pamban Bridge, Pamban, Tamil Nadu, India
Timings
This bridge opens 24 crosses 7 throughout the year as it is the primary communication between Mandapam and Rameswaram.
The Pamban Bridge is the primary connection between Rameshwaram Island and the town of Mandapam, which is the mainland.
How to reach
- By air
The nearest airport to Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram is the Madurai Airport, as Rameshwaram has a different airport. From there, the Pamban Bridge is 165 km away, and it would take around 2 hours and 37 minutes to reach there. Tuticorin Airport is another nearest airport to the bridge, and it is 182 km away. Getting there by road from the airport would take 3 and a half hours.
- By train
If you are travelling by train, the nearest airport to the bridge is the Rameshwaram railway station. The railway station is 13. 7 km away from the Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram, and you can reach it in about 20 minutes. From the railway station, you will have to hire a car to reach the location.
- By road
You will get buses to reach this location from major cities, so you can avail of that to reach Pamban Bridge. The Rameshwaram Bus Stand is the nearest bus stop, only 12 km away. However, you can also hire a car or drive through your vehicle to reach the location in Rameshwaram. The route to this location is very scenic, so if you are travelling by road, you will be able to enjoy the area well.
Overview of Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram
The Pamban Bridge is one of the essential sightseeing locations in Rameshwaram. It is one of the finest engineering marvels in India, and this bridge was the first built across the sea. Therefore, the bridge holds a lot of historical and architectural significance even today. Who built the Pamban Bridge? The British initiated the idea. The efforts to install this historical bridge started as early as the 1870s. Moreover, the main idea behind this construction was to expand India’s trade connectivity to Sri Lanka.
Pamban Bridge length stretches with 143 piers and the size of Pamban Bridge kilometer is 2.2. Officially, the bridge was commissioned in 1914. It was the longest bridge until 2010, before the Bandra Worli Sea Link was constructed. What made this bridge even more remarkable was the way the bridge rests on the concrete piers. However, this has a double-leaf bascule section midway that can be raised; therefore, even ships can pass through.
Pamban Bridge History
The construction of the Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram is a part of the South India Railway Project, and it officially opened on 24 February 1914. Until 1988, this bridge was the only surface transport that connected Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu to the mainland of India. In 1988, a road bridge was constructed parallel to the rail bridge. This road bridge is famous as the Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge. This road bridge further connects Rameshwaram with the National Highway 49. It is located between the Mandapa and Pamban shores on the Palk Strait. In 1988, the then Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi, inaugurated this bridge on 2 October. Overall, the bridge took 14 years to complete and is 2345 metres long.
The Pamban Rail Bridge followed the Scherzer Rolling Lift Technology, which allowed the ferry to move here. This bridge opens up at a 90-degree angle, and therefore, it allows the ferry to move here. Each half of the lifting span of the bridge weighs 515 tonnes. The two leaves of the bridge opened manually using manual levers.
Furthermore, this area is prone to cyclones and strong winds. Also, the bridge survived the massive storm of 1964 and required some repair work. It took only 45 days for the repair work on the bridge after the cyclone. There were other developments here, too. Earlier, the Pamban Bridge train route only carried metre gauge trains. Later, in 2007, the Indian Railways upgraded the bridge to carry broad gauge trains. From the Pamban Bridge, the train line bifurcates into two lines. There is one line that goes towards Rameshwaram, about 10.06 km. Another line from Pamban Bridge to Dhanushkodi goes up to 24 km.
Later, in 2009, maintenance work under the supervision of E. Sreedharan enabled the bridge to carry goods trains. However, in 2018, train movement on this bridge completely stopped after a report of a fissure on 4 December 2018. On 19 March, the rail movement was restored in 2019.
On 23 December 2022, extreme corrosion damaged the bridge, and the sensors started giving out continuous warning signals. After that, transportation on this bridge was suspended permanently. The last train that ran on this bridge was the Secunderabad Rameshwaram Special Express. After that, there were plans to construct a New Pamban Bridge, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new bridge in 2019.
Pamban Bridge train accident
A dangerous cyclone in Rameshwaram caused a lot of damage in 1964. The Pamban Bridge train accident of 1964 was dangerous as it overturned the Pamban Dhanushkodi passenger train. This accident killed more than 200 passengers on board and injured several others.
New Pamban Bridge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new bridge in 2019. It is almost complete now, and the opening date for the New Pamban Bridge is scheduled for 2024. This new bridge will have a double railway line and electrification. As the Indian Railway is moving towards the model of full electrification for its broad gauge network, electrification will also be there. The bridge will be a little over 2 km long. With 99 spans and 18.3 meters long girders, the navigational span of the bridge will be 63 metres.
What will be most memorable about the new bridge is the vertical lift facility of this bridge. Due to this facility, the passage of boats underneath will be smooth. Moreover, the navigational span would move up to a height that allowed the boats to pass. During this time, the rail traffic will stop. Pamban Bridge train timings will be in such a way as to facilitate the shipping routes and timings smoothly, too. Another attraction of this bridge is that it will be constructed in the country, allowing full horizontal navigation up to 72.5 meters. Also, the new bridge will be 3 meters higher than the old Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram.
Tourist attractions in Pamban Bridge
The area of the Pamban Bridge is one of the scenic locations that you can visit in Rameshwaram. However, other than being a scenic location, this area also has a legend attached to it. And that further makes the area more popular for visitors. According to a legend, people believe that this bridge is located at a sacred place Pamban. Pamban is a holy location because, according to beliefs, this is the location where Lord Rama had used an arrow on the ground so that he could get cool water to quench the thirst of his wife, Devi Sita. So, other than being a scenic location, this location also has a mythological and spiritual importance attached to it. A lot of viewers visit here for that reason as well.
Also, from earlier times, this bridge has been a line of connection and has served as a connecting ground between Rameshwaram Island and the mainland. That also makes it a vital geographical location. It will be a site in itself to witness the trains passing here through the Pamban railway line or the ships crossing under the bridge. It has always been a tourist attraction site, and with the completion of the New Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram, it would be one of the splendid locations to visit.
Furthermore, if you plan a trip to the Pamban Bridge, you must also visit the Pamban Beach nearby, another popular location. It is a serene beach where you can have a good time. One of the major attractions on the beach is glass boating, which you need to try. These boats have transparent bottoms that will enable you to see underwater, which is highly alluring. The sea water is clear and offers a clear view of the corals underwater. So definitely remember to try glass boating there.
Wrapping Up!
Now that you have all the information about the Pamban Bridge, Rameshwaram plans to visit there soon. If you look at the Pamban Bridge photos, you will need help to grasp the beauty of the location. So, you need to visit the area in person to understand its beauty. So please let me know when you plan to visit Pamban Bridge Rameshwaram. Also, let me know if this article on the bridge in Rameshwaram will help you learn about the location.
