Rameswaram (Tamil Nadu) [India], January 24 (HBTV): The dismantling of the 111-year-old Pamban Railway Bridge has begun, even as residents of Rameswaram island have urged authorities to preserve the historic structure by relocating it to a railway museum for public display.
Built in 1914, the Pamban Railway Bridge connected Rameswaram island with Mandapam on the mainland and was India’s first bridge constructed across the sea. A distinctive feature of the bridge was its manually operated central suspension span, which could be lifted and lowered to allow ships to pass. The bridge was designed by British engineer Scherzer.
The bridge played a key role in the development of Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi. It sustained damage during the 1964 cyclone but was later renovated and restored to service. Over the years, frequent technical issues led to plans for a replacement structure.
The foundation stone for the new Pamban railway bridge, built using modern technology, was laid in 2019, with construction beginning in 2020. Unlike the old bridge, the new structure features a vertical lift span operated by an electric hoist to facilitate maritime traffic. The new bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 6 last year.
Following the commissioning of the new bridge, the railway administration decided to remove the old Pamban Railway Bridge. Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, the central government agency responsible for executing rail infrastructure projects, issued a tender in August last year for its dismantling.
As per the tender, the suspension span, girder sections, and railway tracks of the 2.3-km-long bridge are to be removed at an estimated cost of INR 2.53 crore. After the tender was awarded, a ground ceremony marked the commencement of dismantling work, which is targeted for completion within four months.
To prevent damage during removal, authorities have decided to dismantle the bridge in stages. Sections of the structure have been sequentially numbered to facilitate systematic dismantling, and workers will carry out the process gradually, officials said. (ANI)