Old Pamban bridge built by man born in Gujarat, 100 years later, new inaugurated by another from state: PM Modi

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi while inaugurating the new Pamban rail sea-bridge in Tamil Nadu ’s Rameswaram on Sunday spoke about the Gujarat link to the old bridge and its replacement.

“A hundred years ago, the old Pamban bridge was built by a man born in Gujarat. Today, after 100 years, the new Pamban bridge has been inaugurated by someone born in Gujarat,” he said, which received huge applause from public.

Sources said the construction of the old Pamban bridge, inaugurated in 1914, involved Gujarat-based contractor Karoji Kutz. The project on the Palk Strait utilised 2,000 tonnes of steel and involved 200 workers. During the construction of the old bridge, now abandoned, materials were lost due to a severe cyclone and high waves. Even cholera impacted the labour force.

The decision to build the bridge was taken by the British during a meeting at Dhanushkodi in TN in Nov 1908. The bridge was completed in Dec 1913 and was inaugurated on Feb 25, 1914, by Lord John Sinclair, the first Baron Pentland, who was the governor of Madras from 1912 to 1919.

The bridge had provision to allow ships to pass beneath it. The Pamban rail bridge was the sole link between Mandapam and Rameswaram for decades until a parallel road bridge was built in 1988.