'Britishers used special type of ...': Why new Rameswaram Pamban Bridge may have a shorter lifespan than the old one

New Pamban Bridge

The Indian Railways has estimated the lifespan of the newly-constructed Rameswaram Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu to be 38 years without any upkeep and up to 58 years with minimal maintenance.

The inauguration of the new bridge is awaiting a formal announcement anytime soon. The new bridge, which is far more superior in quality than the old bridge, may have a shorter lifespan than the old one.

The old bridge, constructed and commissioned by the Britishers in 1914, was operational for train services till December 23, 2022 completing over 108 years of its existence in a highly-corrosive environment and unpredictable weather conditions.

The new bridge, in comparison to the old one, though superior in several ways as claimed by the Railways, will have an estimated life period of only 38 to 58 years depending upon its regular upkeep.

"The robust surface protection system against corrosion can extend the bridge's lifespan to 38 years without maintenance and up to 58 years with minimal maintenance," a document shared by the Southern Railway said, as reported by news agency PTI.

Courtesy: X/@AshwiniVaishnaw

Explaining the reason regarding the difference of the life span of the two bridges, a Southern Railway official told PTI: "The British engineers used a special type of silver paint to give a protective coating to the bridge so that it could resist corrosion for ages. It costs a lot."

"Polysiloxane paint, used in highly corrosion-prone areas worldwide, has been applied to the new bridge to ensure long-lasting durability," he added.

According to the Southern Railway official, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), Southern Circle, who has given an adverse report regarding planning and execution of the bridge, has also questioned its estimated lifespan.

New Pamban Sea-Bridge

"I think the Britishers might not have estimated the life of the old bridge for over a century but it remained operational for so long. Similarly, I believe that we are estimating the life span on the new bridge to 38 years without maintenance and up to 58 years with minimal maintenance but it might continue to be in service for over a century or more than that too," he was quoted by PTI.

After the CRS flagged issues such as violation of bridge construction norms, inadequate anti-corrosion methods, lapses in execution among others, the Southern Railways has launched an aggressive initiative to highlight its striking features along with working on the recommendations made by the CRS.

"The New Pamban Bridge, India's first Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge in Tamil Nadu stands as a beacon of progress in Indian infrastructure, blending heritage with innovation," the document said.

It added, "Designed to connect Rameswaram Island to the mainland, this 2.07-kilometre-long vertical lift sea bridge is a marvel of engineering and a significant step toward modernising transportation in the region." Drawing a global comparison, the Southern Railway claims the new Pamban Bridge joins the ranks of iconic vertical lift bridges worldwide, such as the Tower Bridge of London and the Arthur Kill Vertical Lift Bridge of the US.

"While these bridges were significant in their time, the new Pamban Bridge incorporates modern materials and technologies that surpasses its predecessors in efficiency and durability," the SR said.

"The increasing volume of traffic, coupled with the need for faster and safer connectivity prompted the government to envision a new structure that would be technologically advanced, durable, and future-ready," the railway document said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone of the new bridge, parallel to the old one, in November 2019 and the work was started in February 2020 by RVNL. It was supposed to be completed by December 2021, however, the deadline was extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic and several other reasons such as challenging weather conditions.

(With inputs from PTI)