Railway officials inspect Pamban bridge

The rail bridge, constructed in 1914, has a double-leaf bascule bridge that helps it to open and allow ships to pass through. In the past 102 years, the bascule bridge had rusted in many portions because of the salinity in the sea breeze. 

In December 2017, the Southern Railway announced that a new bascule section would be constructed at a cost of Rs 40 crore.

Railway officials had sought the help of a France-based private engineering company, to design the new bascule bridge. Recently, experts from the company inspected the Pamban bridge.

On Tuesday morning, a team of Railway officials, led by Rajalakshmi, chief superintendent, engineering section of Southern Railway, from Tiruchy inspected the Pamban bridge.

Talking to reporters, Rajalakshmi said that the French company would submit three designs for the bascule bridge after which the construction would commence. 

The approval for design, construction, trial and inspection of safety aspects would take at least two years and by 2020 the new bascule bridge would be fully functional. During the time of construction, trains would be operated only up to Mandapam, said Rajalakshmi.