Pamban bridge

Pamban bridge history:

Pamban Bridge is a railway bridge that connects the Indian mainland with the island of Rameswaram in the state of Tamil Nadu. The bridge, also known as the Pamban Rail Bridge or the Annai Indira Gandhi Bridge, spans over the Palk Strait, which separates India from Sri Lanka.

The story of Pamban Bridge dates back to the early 20th century when the British government was constructing a railway line from Madras (now Chennai) to Rameswaram, a popular pilgrimage site for Hindus. The construction of the bridge was a challenging task due to the strong tidal waves and high winds in the area.

The British engineer in charge of the project, Robert Melville Grimson, came up with a unique design for the bridge. Instead of building a conventional bridge that would have been vulnerable to the strong winds and waves, Grimson proposed a cantilever bridge with a central lifting span. This design allowed the bridge to be raised and lowered as needed to allow ships to pass through.

Construction of the bridge began in 1911 and was completed in 1914. It was opened to the public on February 24, 1914, by Lord Pentland, the then-governor of Madras. At the time of its completion, the Pamban Bridge was the longest and highest bridge in India.

Over the years, the Pamban Bridge has become an important landmark in South India and a popular tourist destination. It has also played a significant role in the economic and cultural development of the region, connecting the mainland with Rameswaram and facilitating the transportation of goods and people.

In 1964, the Pamban Bridge faced its biggest challenge when it was hit by a severe cyclone that caused extensive damage to the bridge. The central portion of the bridge, including the lifting span, was completely destroyed. The bridge was later reconstructed and restored to its former glory, with some modifications to make it more resilient to natural disasters.

Today, the Pamban Bridge stands as a testament to human ingenuity and engineering skills, serving as a vital link between the mainland and the island of Rameswaram.

Here are some interesting facts about the Pamban Bridge:

The Pamban Bridge is a cantilever bridge, which means that it is supported by a pair of diagonal beams called cantilevers, which project horizontally from piers and are supported on one end.

The bridge is 6,776 feet (2,065 meters) long and consists of 145 spans, with a lifting span that can be raised up to 63 feet (19 meters) to allow ships and boats to pass through.

The construction of the bridge took three years and was completed in 1914 at a cost of about Rs. 2 crore (equivalent to approximately $3 million today).

The Pamban Bridge is the only bridge in India that has a section that can be lifted up to allow ships to pass through.

The bridge is a crucial link between mainland India and the island of Rameswaram, which is an important pilgrimage site for Hindus.

The bridge is also a popular tourist attraction, with tourists visiting Rameswaram often taking a train ride over the bridge to experience the breathtaking views of the sea and the island.

The Pamban Bridge was severely damaged by a cyclone in 1964, which destroyed the central portion of the bridge, including the lifting span. The bridge was later rebuilt and restored to its former glory.

The bridge has been featured in several Indian films, including the Bollywood movie "Chennai Express," starring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone.

The Pamban Bridge is also an important engineering landmark, as it was the first cantilever bridge in India and one of the first of its kind in the world when it was built in the early 20th century.