In the sacred precincts of Rameshwaram, anticipation reaches a crescendo as pilgrims and residents yearn for the restoration of train services to Mandapam, nestled on the mainland of India. The echoes of train whistles have been conspicuously absent for over an year, a period marked by the deliberate cessation of rail connectivity from the mainland. This hiatus, however, is not an arbitrary disruption but a strategic pause orchestrated to pave the way for progress. At the heart of this suspension lies the ambitious endeavour of constructing a new Pamban Bridge adjacent to its time-honoured predecessor.
The old Pamban Bridge, an architectural marvel connecting Rameshwaram to the mainland, has gracefully weathered the passage of time. Yet, the demands of modernity beckon, prompting the decision to construct a new bridge that aligns with contemporary standards of safety and efficiency. The temporary cessation of train services serves as a testament to the town’s commitment to infrastructural rejuvenation, acknowledging the importance of progress while preserving the sacred traditions that define Rameshwaram’s cultural tapestry.
“The old Pamban Bridge has aged, and is not safe for usage,” said K. Ravichandran, PRO, Southern Railway, to The Voices, adding, “That is where the construction of the New Pamban Bridge became necessary. Trains to Rameshwaram first arrive at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district in Tamil Nadu, then move to Pamban Bridge and reach Rameshwaram. The train moves slowly on the Pamban bridge and reaches the pilgrimage town in about 15 minutes. “There has been no train for almost a year now,” said Vijay Anand, who is a Chennai-based professional photographer and a regular visitor to Rameshwaram, to The Voices.
After reaching Mandapam, passengers could board a bus outside the railway station there, he added. Railways ensured that bus services were operated from Mandapam Railway Station to Rameshwaram, and pilgrims could board them and reach the holy town at no extra cost. However, a journey by road takes 30 minutes, according to Mythili Ganapathi Raman, a resident of the holy town, who spoke to The Voices. The same by train is about 15 minutes. There are many who are eagerly waiting for the restoration of train services from the mainland to the holy town.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone in November 2019 as a token of commencing the construction. The work began in February 2020. The work was expected to be completed in March 2023. That got delayed, and a few other sources pointed out that construction could get completed in August 2023, raising hopes for pilgrims and residents of Rameshwaram. However, the cheers did not last long, as they heard it would take even longer for completion. Now, we heard that the work would be over by February 2024 and the trains would start operating by March 2024, said Madhavan Sashtrigal, a priest at the temple in Rameshwaram.
The weather condition prevalent at the work spot was the main deterrence factor. The construction is taking place mid-sea, and the wind speeds often played spoilsport, said Ravichandran. On many occasions, the wind speed was very high, compelling the work to halt. The weather report has to be obtained and studied on a daily basis from the local weather office; if the report indicated any unfavourable pattern, the work had to be halted, shared Ravichandran.
“About 92 per cent of the work is completed as of now, and the rest is targeted for completion by the end of January,” said Ravichandran. Taking into consideration the daily weather pattern, efforts are being made to ensure the work is completed as soon as possible. This new bridge would be special in comparison to the old one. The former used to split into two parts to allow the ships below to pass. This new one will not split like its older counterpart; it will, instead, move up like an elevator in an apartment so that the ships below can sail. The span containing the elevator-type functionality can be raised to a height of 17 metres vertically so that ships below it can pass. It will come down to the its original position after the ships move to allow the trains to move over it.
The residents of Rameshwaram said that they “have been hearing that construction will be completed at the earliest”. But the work seemed to go on, said Madhavan Sashtrigal, speaking to The Voices. “The price we pay for commuting from Mandapam to the holy town is more now, since the train service has stopped. An auto ride from Mandapam to Rameshwaram costs about Rs 800 per trip. If there is somebody to share the price, it comes to about Rs 200 per person. But most of the time, I have to pay the full price as there would be no one to accompany me in my trip to Rameshwaram,” he added.
A train trip from Mandapam to Rameshwaram would costs about Rs 85, said A. Ganapathy, a pilgrim. “Hiring a taxi from Mandapam to the holy town costs about Rs 900 to Rs 1,000. I can board a train from Rameshwaram to Chennai for about at a cost of Rs 545. A bus ride from Rameshwaram to Chennai will be about Rs 1,000. A ride in the taxi for the same route will cost around Rs 3,000 to Rs 5,000. Pilgrims and residents are paying more as the train services are not functional now. Only if the trains are operational will the things be okay for residents and pilgrims,” said Ganapathy.
The bridge was built during the British rule in India. “Its services commenced in 1914 and it comes under the Madurai Division of Southern Railway,” said Ravichandran.
So, what is the difference between the old bridge and the new, under-construction one?
- The old Pamban Bridge has a length of 2,058 metres, says Ravichandran. It has 145 spans with a length of 12.20 metres each, and also a navigation span with a length of 61.0 metres. The navigation span is popular as Scherzer Rolling Lift Span. It got its name after the well-known railroad engineer William Scherzer.
- The new Pamban Bridge being constructed next to the old one has 100 spans of 18.3 metres. Its navigational span has a length of 63 metres. This will be 3.0 metres higher than the existing bridge and will have a navigational air clearance of 22.0 metres above sea level. There is more to it than meets the eye. The substructure in the new bridge will be built to make way for a double line. The entire bridge will be designed keeping in view the electrification plan of the Indian Railways, says Ravichandran.
Residents and pilgrims aren’t alone when it comes to praying for the commencement of train services from Mandapam to Rameshwaram. Even the fishermen and others who live by selling goods have joined the prayers. Fishermen and traders are incurring more expenses in transporting their supplies from Mandapam to Rameshwaram and vice-versa. Their only wish is the commencement of train services from Mandapam to Rameshwaram.
As the construction endeavours unfold, the pause in rail connectivity is a symbolic bridge between the town’s storied past and its aspirations for future. Pilgrims and residents alike remain steadfast in their anticipation, eagerly awaiting the day when the rhythmic chug of trains resumes, bridging the temporal gap between tradition and innovation in the tranquil embrace of Rameshwaram.