Pamban Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Pamban Bridge is a cantilever
bridge on the Palk Strait
connects Rameswaram on Pamban Island
to mainland India
. It refers to both the road bridge and the cantilever
railway bridge, though primarily it means the latter. It was India's first sea bridge. It is the second longest sea bridge in India (after Bandra-Worli Sea Link
) at a length of about 2.3 km.
The railway bridge is 6776 ft (2,065.3 m) and was opened for traffic in 1914. The railroad bridge is a still-functioning double-leaf bascule bridge
section that can be raised to let ships pass under the bridge.
The railway bridge historically carried metre-gauge trains on it, but Indian Railways
upgraded the bridge to carry broad-gauge trains in a project that finished Aug. 12, 2007. Until recently, the two leaves of the bridge were opened manually using levers by workers. About 10 ships — cargo carriers, coast guard ships, fishing vessels and oil tankers — pass through the bridge every month. From the elevated two-lane road bridge, adjoining islands and the parallel rail bridge below can be viewed.
As per chronicles of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community, mentioned in their book - Nanji Bapa Ni Nondh Pothi. The erection and construction of Pamban Bridge was done by Mistri
Manji Daya Wegad with Lakhu Devji Vegad both of Anjar
, Varjang Hirji of Nagalpar
and Gangji Narayan of Khedoi
. Together built the Railway lines and Pamban Bridge over creek of Rameshwaram to Pamban construction of which they started in year 1887 and completed sometime in 1912 for South Indian Railway. While working on Pamban Bridge the Mistris Lakhu Devji Vegad of Anjar
and Gangji Narayan of Khedoi
also built famous Temple of Neel-Mandir having seven domes at Rameshwaram, construction which, they started in 1899 and completed in about five years by 1905. After completion of bridge metre-gauge lines were laid by them from Mandapam
up to Pamban Station, from here the railway lines bifurcated into two directions one towards Rameshwaram about 6.25 miles (10.1 km) up and another branch line of 15 miles (24.1 km) terminating at Dhanushkodi. The section was opened to traffic in 1914.
According to Dr Narayanan, the bridge is located at the "world's second highly corrosive environment", next to Miami, US, making the construction a challenging job. The location is also a cyclone-prone high wind velocity zone. This Bridge consist of 143 pilers and the centre span is called swichers bridge. It's 220 ft (67.1 m) long and each of 100 tonnes.
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
bridge on the Palk Strait
Palk Strait
Palk Strait is a strait between the Tamil Nadu state of India and the Mannar district of the Northern Province of the island nation of Sri Lanka. It connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with the Palk Bay and thence with the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. The strait is wide. Several...
connects Rameswaram on Pamban Island
Pamban Island
Pamban Island , also known as Rameswaram Island, is an island located between peninsular India and Sri Lanka. The island is a part of India and is governed by the administration of Ramanathapuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu...
to mainland India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. It refers to both the road bridge and the cantilever
Cantilever
A cantilever is a beam anchored at only one end. The beam carries the load to the support where it is resisted by moment and shear stress. Cantilever construction allows for overhanging structures without external bracing. Cantilevers can also be constructed with trusses or slabs.This is in...
railway bridge, though primarily it means the latter. It was India's first sea bridge. It is the second longest sea bridge in India (after Bandra-Worli Sea Link
Bandra-Worli Sea Link
The Bandra–Worli Sea Link , also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, that links Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli...
) at a length of about 2.3 km.
The railway bridge is 6776 ft (2,065.3 m) and was opened for traffic in 1914. The railroad bridge is a still-functioning double-leaf bascule bridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
section that can be raised to let ships pass under the bridge.
The railway bridge historically carried metre-gauge trains on it, but Indian Railways
Indian Railways
Indian Railways , abbreviated as IR , is a departmental undertaking of Government of India, which owns and operates most of India's rail transport. It is overseen by the Ministry of Railways of the Government of India....
upgraded the bridge to carry broad-gauge trains in a project that finished Aug. 12, 2007. Until recently, the two leaves of the bridge were opened manually using levers by workers. About 10 ships — cargo carriers, coast guard ships, fishing vessels and oil tankers — pass through the bridge every month. From the elevated two-lane road bridge, adjoining islands and the parallel rail bridge below can be viewed.
As per chronicles of Kutch Gurjar Kshatriya community, mentioned in their book - Nanji Bapa Ni Nondh Pothi. The erection and construction of Pamban Bridge was done by Mistri
Mistri
Mistri, or Mistry, is a term for a master-craftsman, foreman or supervisor of manual workers in India. Mistri is being replaced with "supervisor" and other terms, as for example by the Indian Railway who replaced it with supervisor in 2005....
Manji Daya Wegad with Lakhu Devji Vegad both of Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
, Varjang Hirji of Nagalpar
Nagalpar
Nagalpur or Nagalpar is a small village in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. It comes under Anjar taluka.-History:About history of Nagalpar or Nagalpur it is one of the 19 villages established by Kutch Gurjar Kshatriyas or Mistris as they are known in Kutch...
and Gangji Narayan of Khedoi
Khedoi
Khedoi is large village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 14 KM from nearest town Anjar.Village is again sub-divided into Nani-Khedoi and Moti-Khedoi...
. Together built the Railway lines and Pamban Bridge over creek of Rameshwaram to Pamban construction of which they started in year 1887 and completed sometime in 1912 for South Indian Railway. While working on Pamban Bridge the Mistris Lakhu Devji Vegad of Anjar
Anjar, India
Anjar is a town and a municipality in Kutch district in the state of Gujarat, India. The country is dry and sandy, and entirely depends on well irrigation for its water supply. The town is situated nearly 10 miles from the Gulf of Kutch. The town was third time made capital of Kachchh on...
and Gangji Narayan of Khedoi
Khedoi
Khedoi is large village near the town Anjar and the taluka of Kutch district in the Indian state of Gujarat.Village is located 14 KM from nearest town Anjar.Village is again sub-divided into Nani-Khedoi and Moti-Khedoi...
also built famous Temple of Neel-Mandir having seven domes at Rameshwaram, construction which, they started in 1899 and completed in about five years by 1905. After completion of bridge metre-gauge lines were laid by them from Mandapam
Mandapam
Mandapam is a panchayat town in Ramanathapuram district in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.-Geography:Mandapam is located at . It has an average elevation of 9 metres .-Demographics:...
up to Pamban Station, from here the railway lines bifurcated into two directions one towards Rameshwaram about 6.25 miles (10.1 km) up and another branch line of 15 miles (24.1 km) terminating at Dhanushkodi. The section was opened to traffic in 1914.
According to Dr Narayanan, the bridge is located at the "world's second highly corrosive environment", next to Miami, US, making the construction a challenging job. The location is also a cyclone-prone high wind velocity zone. This Bridge consist of 143 pilers and the centre span is called swichers bridge. It's 220 ft (67.1 m) long and each of 100 tonnes.
Location
The bridge spans a 2 km-strait between mainland and island and is the only surface transport link between the two. The mainland end of the bridge is located at .See also
- Bandra-Worli Sea LinkBandra-Worli Sea LinkThe Bandra–Worli Sea Link , also known as the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link , is a cable-stayed bridge with pre-stressed concrete-steel viaducts on either side, that links Bandra and the western suburbs of Mumbai with Worli...
- List of longest bridges in the world
- List of longest bridges above water in India