CHENNAI, NOV 28 : The newly built iconic Pamban Bridge across the sea connecting Mandapam and Rameswaram was cleared for operation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) after reports surfaced about signs of corrosion.

This 2.05 km long bridge with a unique 72 m Vertical Lift span, was one of its kind in the country. This railway bridge connects the Rameswaram town on Pamban Island with Mandapam in mainland India.

A Southern Railway release on Thursday said the design of this steel Bridge has been done by a TYPSA, International Consultant and is designed with European and Indian Codes and proof checked by IIT, Madras.

Being designed by Foreign Consultant, the Railway Board envisaged technical limitation in examination of design by Railways and RDSO.

The Board decided on additional proof check of design by IIT, Mumbai. After double proof check, the design of Bridge has been approved by Southern Railway.

So, the bridge has been constructed based on design by a reputed International Consultant duly proof checked by two most premier Institutes of the country.

The modification in RDSO design for approach girders to suit local constraints have also been proof checked by IIT Madras/ IIT Bombay and approved by the Southern Railway.

The welding of structural members, a crucial aspect of the efficacy of the structure have been checked 100 % by using the latest Phase Array Ultrasonic Testing, and 100% checked by Welding Research Institute, Trichy and test checked by Southern Railway.

For corrosion protection, special painting scheme used in extreme corrosion prone areas in the world using polysiloxane paint with a design life of 35 years, has been implemented.

Use of stainless-steel reinforcement in Reinforced concrete construction, fully welded box section in lift span, completely avoiding splice joints in the approach span girders, FRP in pathways, Inspection arrangements and Hand rails are amongst the innovative features to counter corrosion protection.

It is confirmed that the bridge has been constructed with state of the art design and the best construction practices. It is cleared for operation by the Commissioner of Railway Safety.

The first bridge was opened on February 24, 1914. It was India’s first sea bridge and was the longest sea bridge in the coutry 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 section midway, which can be raised to let ships and barges pass through.

The Pamban bridge was the only surface transport link that connected Rameswaram to the mainland India till 1988 when a road bridge was constructed parallel to the railway bridge.

In 2020, construction of a new bridge closer to the existing one began which was planned to eventually replace the existing bridge.

In December 2022, rail transportation on the bridge was suspended permanently as the bascule section had weakened significantly due to corrosion. And now the new bridge was cleared for operation by the CRS today.