MargeneGoodfello: clean up

2026-02-06T05:22:48Z

clean up

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5

2021-08-09T02:37:05Z

Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5

New page

{{short description|Railway bridge connecting Pamban Island to mainland India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}}
{{Infobox bridge
| native_name =
| image = Pamban Bridge Train Passing.jpg
|image_size=290px
| caption = Pamban bridge
| carries = Rail
| crosses =
| owner = [[Indian Railways]]
| length = {{convert|6776|ft}}
| number_spans = 144
| piers_in_water =
| num_track = 1
| track_gauge = [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge]]
| begin = 1911
| complete = 1914
| cost =
| open = 1915
| locale = [[Rameswaram]], [[Tamil Nadu]], India
| coordinates = {{Coord|9|16|57.25|N|79|12|5.91|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
}}
[[File:Pamban Road and Rail Bridge.jpg|thumb|Pamban Road and Rail Bridge]]
'''Pamban Bridge''' is a railway bridge which connects the town of [[Mandapam]] in mainland India with [[Pamban Island]], and [[Rameswaram]]. Opened on 24 February 1914,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.unisteelsengg.com/application-duplex-steel-pamban-bridge.html|title=Pamban Bridge, Application Pamban Bridge|work=My Rameswaram|access-date=2019-12-30|language=en-US}}</ref> it was India's first sea bridge, and was the longest sea bridge in India until the opening of the [[Bandra-Worli Sea Link]] in 2010. The rail bridge is, for the most part, a conventional bridge resting on concrete piers, but has a double-leaf [[Bascule bridge|bascule]] section midway, which can be raised to let ships and barges pass through. Until 1988, the Pamban bridge was the only surface transport that connected Tamil Nadu's island of Rameswaram to the mainland. In December 2018, the bascule of this bridge was damaged, which suspended transportation on the bridge for 3 months. Rail movement was again restored on 27 February 2019.

In 1988, a road bridge was also constructed parallel to the rail bridge. This road bridge is also known as Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge. The Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge connects the National Highway (NH 49) with the Rameswaram island. It stands on the Palk Strait and between the shores of Mandapam (a place on the Indian mainland) and Pamban (one of the fishermen town in Rameswaram island). It was inaugurated by former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on 2 October 1988.<ref name="pamban roadbridge">{{cite news|url=http://myrameswaram.com/pamban-road-bridge|title=Pamban Road Bridge: Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge|year=2017}}</ref> This 2.345 km long bridge took close to 14 years to be completed.

== Location ==
The Pamban railway bridge spans a 2.06 km<ref name="My Rameswaram">{{Cite news|url=http://myrameswaram.com/pamban-railway-bridge|title=Pamban Bridge, Pamban Railway Bridge|work=My Rameswaram|access-date=2018-08-19|language=en-US}}</ref> wide strait between the Indian mainland and Rameswaram Island. The mainland end of the bridge is located at {{Coord|9|16|56.70|N|79|11|20.12|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline}}. The bridge is located in the world's second most corrosive environment after [[Florida]], making its maintenance a challenging job. The location is also a cyclone-prone high wind velocity zone.<ref name=hindu1 />

== Design ==
[[File:A closeup shot of Pamban Bridge.jpg|thumb|Lifting spans allow small ships to pass through]]

The railway bridge is located {{convert|12.5|m}} above sea level and is {{convert|6776|ft|m|abbr=on}} long.<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news|title=Pamban Bridge to be pulled down for gauge conversion|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2003/11/21/stories/2003112101991700.htm|access-date=7 May 2015|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=21 November 2003|first=Raja Simhan|last=T.E.}}</ref> The bridge consists of 143 piers and has a double-leaf [[Bascule bridge|bascule]] section with a [[Scherzer rolling lift bridge|Scherzer rolling type]] lift span that can be raised to let ships pass. Each half of the lifting span weighs {{convert|415|tonne}}.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bridge-of-memories-and-to-rameswaram-reopens/article1-241808.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131227080842/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/bridge-of-memories-and-to-rameswaram-reopens/article1-241808.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 December 2013| title=Bridge of memories – and to Rameswaram – reopens|newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] | date=11 August 2007| first=Papri|last=Sri Raman}}</ref> The two leaves of the bridge are opened manually using levers.<ref name=hindu1 />

== Planning and construction ==
Plans for a bridge to connect to mainland was suggested in 1870<ref name="My Rameswaram"/> as the British Administration sought ways to increase trade with [[Ceylon]].<ref name="etimes">{{cite news| url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/slideshows/infrastructure/pamban-bridge-10-awesome-facts-about-indias-first-sea-bridge/commissioned-on-february-24-1914/slideshow/25683764.cms|title=Pamban bridge: 10 awesome facts about India's first sea bridge|newspaper=[[The Economic Times]]}}</ref> The construction began in August 1911 and was opened on 24 February 1914.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Making of India: The Untold Story of British Enterprise|first=Kartar|last=Lalvani|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing|year=2016|isbn=978-1-4729-2483-4}}</ref> The adjacent road bridge was opened in 1988.<ref name="etimes" /> As of 5 December 2018, the bridge was closed due to a crack in the bridge and the maintenance work is going on.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press108.online/india/train-services-from-rameswaram-to-mandapam-suspended-due-to-crack-in-pamban-bridge/|title=Train Services from Rameswaram to Mandapam Suspended due to Crack in Pamban Bridge|date=2018-12-18|website=Press108|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> The Indian Railway Minister [[Piyush Goyal]] announced that a new railway bridge will be constructed near the old Pamban Bridge at a cost of Rs. 250 crores.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press108.online/india/ministry-of-railways-confirms-new-bridge-in-pamban/|title=Ministry of Railways confirms New Bridge in Pamban|date=2018-12-25|website=Press108|language=en-US|access-date=2019-03-01}}</ref> This new dual track bridge is planned to be constructed in automotive mode, allowing two ships to pass this bridge at the same time.

== Maintenance ==
The bridge was damaged during the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone]] and required repair work.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Story of The Deities and The Temples in Southern Indian Peninsula|publisher=Trilochan Dash|page=178}}</ref> Strengthening work was carried out on the bridge under the supervision of [[E. Sreedharan]] in 2009 to enable it to carry goods trains.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0511/026-india-delhi-subway-builder.html| title=Delhi's Subway Builder|newspaper=[[Forbes]] | date=1 May 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article519853.ece|title=Strengthening of Pamban Railway Bridge|date=17 July 2010|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> On 13 January 2013, the bridge required repair work to the piers after suffering minor damage from a naval barge.<ref name="NDTV">{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/barge-collides-into-century-old-rail-bridge-near-tamil-nadu-coast-316687|title=Ship collides into century-old rail bridge|work=[[NDTV]] | date=13 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/repair-work-on-pamban-bridge-fast-progressing/article4310384.ece| title=Repair work on Pamban bridge fast progressing|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=16 January 2013}}</ref> In 2016, the [[Ministry of Railways (India)|Ministry of Railways]] sanctioned {{INRConvert|25|c}} to replace the existing {{convert|65.23|m}} long rolling type span with a {{convert|66|m}} long single truss span which could be opened automatically.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/principal-chief-engineer-inspects-pamban-rail-bridge/article8283545.ece|title=Principal Chief Engineer inspects Pamban rail bridge|date=26 February 2016|newspaper=[[The Hindu]]}}</ref> All train movement was stopped from 5 December 2018 when a fissure was noticed on 4 December 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/trains-to-rameswaram-cancelled-due-to-repair-work-on-pamban-bridge/articleshow/66956514.cms|title=Trains to Rameswaram cancelled due to repair work on Pamban|date=5 December 2018|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]}}</ref>

Rail movement on the bridge is restored as of 10 March 2019.

== Railway ==
The railway bridge carried [[Metre gauge railway|metre gauge]] trains connecting [[Mandapam]] on mainland India to Pamban. [[Indian Railways]] upgraded the bridge to carry [[5 ft 6 in gauge railway|broad gauge]] trains and the work was completed on 12 August 2007.<ref name="etimes" /> From Pamban, the railway line bifurcated, one line towards Rameshwaram about {{convert|6.25|mi|km}} up and another branch line of {{convert|15|mi|km}} terminating at [[Dhanushkodi]].<ref>{{cite book| title=Shree Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya Samaj: A brief History & Glory of our fore-fathers| first=Raja Pawan| last=Jethwa| year=2007| chapter=Section II: Mileage wise available Details of Railway lines laid| pages=63–70}}</ref> The [[Boat Mail|Boat mail express]] runs from [[Chennai Egmore railway station|Chennai Egmore]] to [[Rameswaram railway station|Rameswaram]]. The train ran up to Dhanushkodi until 1964 when the metre-gauge branch line from Pamban to Dhanushkodi was destroyed during the [[1964 Rameswaram cyclone|1964 Dhanushkodi cyclone]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/17/stories/2006071705960300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071027141816/http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/17/stories/2006071705960300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 October 2007|title=Their sentiment to metre gauge train is unfathomable|newspaper=[[The Hindu]] | date=17 July 2006|first=C|last=Jaishankar}}</ref>

== Road ==
[[File:Pamban Bridge connecting Rameshwaram Island.jpg|thumb|Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge]]

The construction works of Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge was commenced on 17 November 1974 by the Indian Highway department and contracted to M/S Neelakandan Brothers Engs, Madras.
After the 1978 cyclone the work was carried out slowly, and few years later the contract was given to the New Gammon India Ltd. The Government sanctioned 16.6514 crore INR by 1986. The work was completed on 1988.<ref name="pamban roadbridge" />

== Accidents ==
On 23 December 1964, an estimated {{convert|7.6|m|ft|abbr=on}} [[storm surge]] struck the island, overturning the Pamban-Dhanuskodi passenger train killing all 150 passengers on board.<ref>{{cite news|title=Memory of the disaster still lingers|first=C.|last=Jaishankar|url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/24/stories/2005122405580500.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070105131113/http://www.hindu.com/2005/12/24/stories/2005122405580500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 January 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=24 December 2005}}</ref> On 13 January 2013, the bridge suffered minor damage when a naval barge drifted into it.<ref name="NDTV"/>

== Cultural references ==
* The national award winning Tamil movie ''[[Kannathil Muthamittal]]'' (2002) was filmed at the Pamban Bridge.<ref name="Make My Trip">{{cite web|title=Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge in Rameswaram|url=https://www.makemytrip.com/travel-guide/rameswaram/annai-indira-gandhi-bridge-landmarks.html|publisher=Make My Trip}}</ref>
* Parts of the Bollywood movie ''[[Chennai Express]]'' (2013) were filmed at the Pamban Bridge.<ref name="Make My Trip"/>

== 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 ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://ramanathapuram.nic.in/tourist-place/pamban-bridge/ Pamban Bridge, Ramanathapuram, official site]
* [http://www.pambanbridge.com/ Pamban Bridge]

{{Commons category}}
{{Commons category|Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge}}

[[Category:Palk Strait]]
[[Category:Cantilever bridges]]
[[Category:Railway bridges in India]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1914]]
[[Category:Bridges in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Transport in Rameswaram]]
[[Category:1914 establishments in India]]

Pamban Bridge - Revision history

MargeneGoodfello: clean up

imported>GreenC bot: Rescued 1 archive link. Wayback Medic 2.5