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{{short description|Proposed bridge between Tamil Nadu, India, and Mannar Island, Sri Lanka}}
{{Infobox bridge
| name = Palk Strait bridge and tunnel
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| image = AdamsBridge02-NASA.jpg
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| caption = The bridge and tunnel is to be constructed across the Palk Strait, between India and Sri Lanka.
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| crosses = [[Palk Strait]]
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| official_name = India-Sri Lanka Binational Bridge and Tunnel
| owner = [[Government of India]] and [[Government of Sri Lanka]]
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| length = {{Convert|23|km|mi|abbr=on}}
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The '''Palk Strait Bridge and Tunnel''' is a proposed {{Convert|23|km|mi|adj=on}} road and rail bridge and tunnel over the [[Palk Strait]] between [[Dhanushkodi]] in the Indian [[Federated state|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Talaimannar]] on [[Mannar Island]] off the northwestern coast of [[Sri Lanka]]. The project was first formally introduced in 2002 during peace talks in Sri Lanka, the project has since undergone multiple feasibility assessments, including recent bilateral agreements in 2023–24 to evaluate its technical and economic viability. Despite support from sections of both governments and backing from the [[Asian Development Bank]], the bridge has faced persistent opposition in Sri Lanka over concerns related to national sovereignty, immigration, and cultural integrity. As of 2025, the [[Government of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan government]] has maintained a cautious stance, with President [[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]] stating the country was not yet ready for a land connection with India.

== History ==
The bridge between India and Sri Lanka was first seriously proposed by the governments of these two countries back in 2002. During the 2002-2004 Peace Accord, the then Prime Minister, [[Ranil Wickremesinghe]], asked India to help build what he called the ‘Hanuman Bridge’.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bridge over the Palk Strait |url=https://archives.sundayobserver.lk/2015/08/09/fea10.asp |access-date=2023-09-16 |website=archives.sundayobserver.lk}}</ref>

In June 2015, [[Nitin Gadkari]], [[Ministry of Road Transport and Highways|Minister of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India]], submitted the proposal to the [[Asian Development Bank]], which agreed to finance the construction.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sri Lanka rejects bridge linking Tamil Nadu and North-East |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/sri-lanka-rejects-bridge-linking-tamil-nadu-and-north-east |website=Tamil Guardian |access-date=26 August 2024 |date=2015-12-18}}</ref> In December 2015, the [[Ministry of Transport and Highways|Minister of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka]], [[Lakshman Kiriella]] dismissed the proposal.<ref name=DNAindia>{{cite news|title=India-Sri Lanka road link in the works|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-india-sri-lanka-road-link-in-the-works-nitin-gadkari-2096219|work=[[Daily News and Analysis]]|date=17 June 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Sri Lanka Scuttles Gadkari's Plan for Bridge Over Palk Strait |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sri-Lanka-Scuttles-Gadkari%E2%80%99s-Plan-for-Bridge-Over-Palk-Strait/2015/12/19/article3186105.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223223748/http://www.newindianexpress.com/world/Sri-Lanka-Scuttles-Gadkari%E2%80%99s-Plan-for-Bridge-Over-Palk-Strait/2015/12/19/article3186105.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 December 2015 |work=[[The New Indian Express]] |first=P.K. |last=Balachandran |agency=Express News Service |date=19 December 2015}}</ref> In spite of this setback, Gadkari continued promoting the bridge's construction, and insisting that discussions were ongoing, into 2016.<ref>{{cite web |title=India keen to build ADB funded road link to Sri Lanka |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/india-keen-build-adb-funded-road-link-sri-lanka |website=Tamil Guardian |access-date=26 August 2024 |date=2016-02-14}}</ref>

An initial feasibility study of the bridge-tunnel combination was done in 2018.<ref>''Feasibility study of bridge-tunnel combinations across Palk Strait: Comparison of technical and economic feasibility of various alignments'' R. Rengarajan, M. V. L. R. Anjaneyulu, and B. V. Venkatarama Reddy and it's published in Publication: Journal of Engineering, Design and Technology (Volume 16, Issue 5, 2018).</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Tyagi |first=Tashika |date=2024-01-23 |title=India & Sri Lanka Maybe Getting A 23-Km Long Sea Link Soon As Govt Considers Feasibility Study For The Bridge |url=https://curlytales.com/india-sri-lanka-maybe-getting-a-23-km-long-sea-link-soon-as-govt-considers-feasibility-study-for-the-bridge/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Curly Tales |language=en-US}}</ref> The study says it would increase trade, tourism and employment. In 2023, a further study by Sri Lankan economists concluded that the bridge would reduce transport costs to the country by 50%, thereby reducing the cost of imported goods and services.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Balachandran |first1=P. K. |title=Sri Lanka-India Road And Rail Bridge Will Bring Down Transport Cost By 50% – Analysis |url=https://www.eurasiareview.com/22052023-sri-lanka-india-road-and-rail-bridge-will-bring-down-transport-cost-by-50-analysis/ |website=Eurasia Review |access-date=26 August 2024}}</ref>

During a two day visit of [[President of Sri Lanka|Sri Lankan President]] Ranil Wickramasinghe to India in July 2023, both nations agreed to conduct a thorough feasibility study for a proposed bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Raju |first1=Adluri Subramanyam |title=Bridge that could boost India and Sri Lanka ties |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/ht-insight/international-affairs/bridge-that-could-boost-india-and-sri-lanka-ties-101720425419763.html |website=Hindustan Times |access-date=26 August 2024 |language=en |date=2024-07-08}}</ref> That study was initiated by India in January 2024, and will evaluate technical, economic, and environmental aspects to determine the project's viability.<ref>{{cite web |title=India looks to build 'Hanuman' bridge from Tamil Nadu to Tamil Eelam |url=https://www.tamilguardian.com/content/india-looks-build-hanuman-bridge-tamil-nadu-tamil-eelam |website=Tamil Guardian |access-date=26 August 2024 |date=2024-01-24}}</ref> The bridge aims to enhance trade, tourism, and overall connectivity between the two countries, and foster closer ties and cooperation.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Land bridge planned between India and Sri Lanka |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/210723/land-bridge-planned-between-india-and-sri-lanka.html}}</ref> In July 2024, the Sri Lankan President said that the feasibility study on the proposed bridge is in its final stages.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-16 |title=Feasibility study on proposal to establish land connectivity with India in final stages, says Sri Lankan President |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-sri-lanka-land-connectivity-feasibility-study-on-proposal-in-final-stages-sri-lankan-president-9395903/ |access-date=2024-07-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>

In 2025 President [[Anura Kumara Dissanayake]] stated that Sri Lanka was not ready for a land connection with India yet.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sri Lanka not ready for connectivity with India by land |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/top-story/Sri-Lanka-not-ready-for-connectivity-with-India-by-land/155-306796# |access-date=18 September 2025 |work=www.dailymirror.lk |language=en |last=Bandara |first=Kelum |date=18 April 2025}}</ref>

== Opposition ==
There is some longstanding opposition to the project in Sri Lanka, with concerns around customs and immigration enforcement, tourism capacity, and the undermining of their independence.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ramachandran |first1=Sudha |title=Sri Lankans oppose sea bridge with India |url=https://asiatimes.com/2015/12/sri-lankans-oppose-bridge-with-india/ |website=Asia Times |language=en |date=2023-12-15 |access-date=17 July 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Don |first1=Manu |title=Road link between Lanka and India, a bridge too far |url=https://www.sundaytimes.lk/230730/columns/road-link-between-lanka-and-india-a-bridge-too-far-526672.html |website=The Sunday Times |access-date=26 August 2024 |date=2023-07-30}}</ref> In 2015, Sri Lanka's Minister of Highways, [[Lakshman Kiriella]], explicitly rejected the proposal, stating "We are against it because people of Sri Lanka are opposed to it. We cannot let India build a bridge".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Admin |date=2015-12-23 |title=Sri Lankans oppose sea bridge with India |url=http://asiatimes.com/2015/12/sri-lankans-oppose-bridge-with-india/ |access-date=2025-07-16 |website=Asia Times |language=en-US}}</ref> Sri Lankan nationalists worry that the bridge would facilitate illegal immigration from the neighboring Indian state of Tamil Nadu, as poor workers arrive in search of better-paying jobs.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Balachandran |first1=P. K. |title=No Plan to Build India-Sri Lanka Bridge, Says Lankan Minister |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2016/Aug/06/no-plan-to-build-india-sri-lanka-bridge-says-lankan-minister-1506204.html |website=The New Indian Express |date=2016-08-06}}</ref> Some argue the bridge could erode Sri Lanka's ethnic and cultural distinctiveness, intensifying fears of demographic transformation and loss of identity.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-08-10 |title=Proposed bridge across Palk Straits: Adverse impact on bio-diversity and ethnic identity |url=https://www.spur.asn.au/proposed-bridge-across-palk-straits-adverse-impact-on-bio-diversity-and-ethnic-identity/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730131350/https://www.spur.asn.au/proposed-bridge-across-palk-straits-adverse-impact-on-bio-diversity-and-ethnic-identity/ |archive-date=2021-07-30 |access-date=2025-07-16 |work=SPUR |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Asian Highway Network]]
* [[Borders of India]]
* [[India–Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements]]
* [[Pamban Bridge]]
* [[Adam's Bridge]]
* [[Extreme points of Sri Lanka]]
* [[Intercontinental and transoceanic fixed links]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Coord|9.1465|N|79.5293|E|display=title}}

[[Category:Palk Strait]]
[[Category:Bridges in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Bridges in Mannar District]]
[[Category:Proposed bridges in India]]
[[Category:Proposed infrastructure in Tamil Nadu]]

Palk Strait Bridge - Revision history

Addie15A4298: started pg