New Pamban Bridge construction progresses swiftly: Enhancing connectivity in Tamil Nadu

May 4, 2024 Rail News

The construction of the New Pamban Bridge is making rapid strides, marking a significant step forward in infrastructure development. Key achievements include completing the substructure with 333 piles and 101 pile caps, along with launching 76 out of 99 approach girders, including the lift span fabrication.

More Details:

The New Pamban Bridge is a 2,070-metre (6,790 ft) long vertical lift sea bridge that is being built parallel to the existing Pamban Bridge at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. This upcoming structure will be India’s first vertical lift sea bridge. The new bridge will have 100 spans across the sea, 99 of which will be 18.3 metres and o­ne of which will be 72.5 metres. It will be 3 metres higher than the existing bridge.

Significance of the Project:

Substructure is being constructed for two Tracks to accommodate future doubling and superstructure is being provided for Single line. Reconstruction of Pamban Bridge was sanctioned under Supplementary demands for Grants 2018-19 o­n 20.02.2019.

Fabrication workshop was established at Sattirakkudi Railway Station, sufficiently away from sea coast, as per RDSO Standard Technical Requirement and the same was approved by RDSO (Research Designs and Standards Organisation). Steel Plate girders for approach spans, Open Web Girder for the navigational span and the Tower are being fabricated at this Workshop and then transported to Bridge site for assembling and launching.

To facilitate movement of ships across the Railway bridge, the navigational span can be lifted up to a height of 17 metres using a fully automated Electro-mechanical system. The air draft (vertical clearance) in the lifted position of the navigational span will be equal to the vertical clearance available in the Road Bridge, which will facilitate movement of bigger ships seamlessly across the sea.

Reasons for going for a New Bridge at Pamban:

  • The 110 year old bridge has served its codal life
  • The Scherzer Span (Double Bascule) of the existing Bridge is corroded over the years. 
  • There is a Permanent Speed Restriction of 10 kmph over the 2km long bridge
  • There were intermittent stoppage of traffic o­n the bridge over several months for repairing the corroded members of lift spans.
  • Therefore, it was decided to initially replace the Scherzer Span with a vertical lift span.
  • As this required suspension of traffic for over 8 months, it was decided to construct a new bridge o­n detour with a vertical Lift span of 72.5m.

Salient features of New Pamban Bridge

  • Objective: Construction of a new Pamban bridge with Navigational Lift Span.
  • Location: Located in Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu, the new Pamban Bridge will connect Rameswaram island with the mainland.
  • Year of sanction: 2019.
  • Anticipated cost: Rs.550 cr.
  • Span configuration: 99 x 18.3 m + 1 x 72.5m.
  • Length of the bridge: 2.08 Km.
  • Substructure: 1.5 m dia Pile foundation and Pile Cap/ Pier Cap with provision for two tracks.
  • Superstructure: 72.5m Steel Through Girder for Navigational span & 18.3 m Steel Plate Girders for approach spans.
  • Navigational span: One Vertical lift span of 72.5 m with provision for two tracks.
  • Approach spans: 99 Spans of 18.3m Steel Plate Girders fabricated for Single line.

Present Status of Work:

  • All Substructures consisting of 333 Nos. of Piles and 101 Nos. of Pile Caps have been completed.
  • All 99 Approach Girders have been fabricated and 76 have been launched. Remaining 23 spans are being launched from Pamban end, following the movement of Lift Span.

  • Lift Span has been fabricated and is being launched.  Out of 428m, it has been launched for 200m.
  • Track has been linked for 1.50 km from Mandapam End and trial movement of goods trains (BFR with OHE masts) has been done.
  • Remaining length of 0.60 km of track will be laid along with launching of Approach Spans from Pamban End.
  • All Electromechanical Equipment has been procured. Trial assembly and Trial run of the Electro mechanical equipment has been done and found to be functioning satisfactorily.
  • Lifting Tower has been erected o­n the Mandapam end of Navigation channel and the same is under erection o­n Pamban end of the channel.
  • Raising of the Platform level and improvement to the station has been completed at the adjacent Pamban Station.
  • The Bridge will be completed before the end of 2024 and commissioned for rail traffic.

Benefits:

  • The new Pamban Bridge will be a modern bridge that can accommodate higher volumes of traffic.
  • The new bridge will have a higher clearance to allow larger boats to pass underneath, improving sea connectivity and facilitating smoother transportation in the region.
  • The new bridge incorporates modern engineering techniques and materials to enhance durability and longevity.
  • The new bridge will offer a significant boost to regional transportation and economic development.

Conclusion:

The New Pamban Bridge’s quick construction highlights Tamil Nadu’s dedication to infrastructure modernization and development. With completion anticipated by the end of 2024, the project promises to significantly elevate connectivity and facilitate smoother transportation across the region.

Source: Southern Railway – Press Release | Images Credit (representational): MoR