Date:22/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/22/stories/2007062256420500.htm

Tamil Nadu

Pamban bridge span reopened

Staff Reporter

RAMANATHAPURAM: Amid cheers from Southern Railway engineers, workers and onlookers, the Pamban bridge was opened up to allow small ships and barges to cross the Pamban Pass on Thursday.

The lifting span was built in 1914 to the metre gauge standard and named after Schrezer who designed it.

To facilitate the broad gauge conversion work, the opening was halted in November last.

Based on the design of the Indian Institute of Technology-Madras and the Structural Engineering Research Centre, Chennai, the lifting portion was converted into broad gauge without its operational method being changed.

The Coast Guard ship, C-138, which was patrolling the Gulf of Mannar for the last several months, crossed the bridge, sailing into the Palk Bay.

“The lifting span is functioning absolutely well. All permitted ships can pass through this channel. We have informed the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board that all ships can be permitted through the Pamban Pass,” S. Anbalagan, Bridge Engineer, told The Hindu.