Travel Tips Of Pamban Bridge

Dual Bridge Engineering Marvel: The Pamban Bridge is a collective name for two parallel bridges: the original Pamban Railway Bridge and the newer Annai Indira Gandhi Road Bridge. The Railway Bridge, opened on February 24, 1914, was India's first sea bridge and remained the longest until 2010. It fea tures a unique double-leaf bascule section (Scherzer rolling type lift span) that could be manually raised to allow ships and barges to pass, a significant feat of early 20th-century engineering. The Lifeline of Rameswaram: The bridge serves as the sole surface link connecting Pamban Island (and Rameswaram) to the Indian mainland (Mandapam). It is a crucial lifeline for pilgrims, tourists, and the local economy, facilitating the movement of goods and people. The parallel Road Bridge was commissioned and opened in 1988, ensuring all-weather access to the island. Historical Resilience and Cyclonic Fury: The original rail bridge notably survived a catastrophic cyclone in 1964 (though parts were damaged and rebuilt quickly) and has weathered numerous storms, standing as a symbol of human resilience against the forces of nature. A new, fully automated lift-span railway bridge is currently under construction to replace the century-old structure. (410 words): More