Pamban Bridge: India's sea lift bridge in Rameswaram faces 'curve' test

10 Apr 2024 CW Team

We commenced the transportation of this lift span on March 10th, and thus far, we have managed to shift the 550-tonne lift span 80 metres towards the centre of the bridge. The primary challenge lies in the 2.65-degree curved alignment of the bridge. If it were straight, progress would have been swifter, explained a senior RVNL official, noting that the curved configuration was necessitated by various alignment adjustments.

The RVNL aims to conclude the movement of the lift span to its ultimate fixing position by the end of May, requiring an additional 370 metres of transportation.

Once we surpass the curved section, we can accelerate its movement. We've exercised great caution while maneuvering it in the sea due to its size and weight, necessitating precise execution at every stage, the official remarked.

With a deadline set for June 30 to operationalise the bridge, RVNL officials affirm their utmost efforts to meet the target.

Once the lift span is affixed, the remaining tasks are manageable, expressed another RVNL official.

Furthermore, he elaborated, This lift span can be automatically raised to a height of up to 17 meters to allow passage for ships. The ascending and descending process takes approximately 5 minutes each and will be scheduled to minimize disruptions to train services.

The RVNL commissioned the design of this lift span from the Spanish firm TYPSA, with manufacturing undertaken at Sattirakkudi Railway Station, located 20 kilometres from the coastline.

We transported it in various segments and assembled it here at the coast because transporting such a massive structure from the manufacturing site was impractical, clarified the RVNL official.

The RVNL official stated that a significant challenge has emerged in the construction of the Pamban railway bridge, India's inaugural vertical-lift bridge linking the mainland with Rameswaram island, owing to a sharp curve. This curve, in addition to the mechanical complexities and turbulent sea conditions, has posed an additional obstacle for the Railways. The RVNL, tasked with erecting this 2.08-km-long bridge, is encountering substantial difficulty in transporting a lift span measuring 72.5 metres in length, 16 meters in width, and weighing 550 tonnes, from the Rameshwaram end to a distance of 450 metres into the sea to affix it to the bridge. We commenced the transportation of this lift span on March 10th, and thus far, we have managed to shift the 550-tonne lift span 80 metres towards the centre of the bridge. The primary challenge lies in the 2.65-degree curved alignment of the bridge. If it were straight, progress would have been swifter, explained a senior RVNL official, noting that the curved configuration was necessitated by various alignment adjustments. The RVNL aims to conclude the movement of the lift span to its ultimate fixing position by the end of May, requiring an additional 370 metres of transportation. Once we surpass the curved section, we can accelerate its movement. We've exercised great caution while maneuvering it in the sea due to its size and weight, necessitating precise execution at every stage, the official remarked. With a deadline set for June 30 to operationalise the bridge, RVNL officials affirm their utmost efforts to meet the target. Once the lift span is affixed, the remaining tasks are manageable, expressed another RVNL official. Furthermore, he elaborated, This lift span can be automatically raised to a height of up to 17 meters to allow passage for ships. The ascending and descending process takes approximately 5 minutes each and will be scheduled to minimize disruptions to train services. The RVNL commissioned the design of this lift span from the Spanish firm TYPSA, with manufacturing undertaken at Sattirakkudi Railway Station, located 20 kilometres from the coastline. We transported it in various segments and assembled it here at the coast because transporting such a massive structure from the manufacturing site was impractical, clarified the RVNL official.