Pamban Bridge may give way to save Ram Sethu

The century-old Pamban cantilever bridge may give way in a not so distant future to a modern structure that opens sideways to allow big ships to move across. Or, to travel to Rameswaram, you could take a train which, unlike the current one, would run between the mainland and Pamban Island through an undersea tunnel.

The government is considering these and other options to allow big ships to pass through the Pamban Strait, where two bridges including the cantilever structure and shallow draft are major hindrance to maritime movement. Making the Pamban Strait navigable for big ships wouldn’t harm the Ram Sethu, the mythological bridge used by Lord Rama to reach Lanka and something that is dear to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.

"A number of options have been put forth...There are various templates available worldwide," said a senior government official.

To travel between India's eastern and western coasts, big vessels now have to go around Sri Lanka, increasing travel time and cost.

A previous plan to create a shipping channel by dredging the shallow sea of Palk Bay between Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka had hit severe opposition from the BJP and religious groups because that would lead to cutting the Ram Sethu or Adam’s Bridge, a chain of limestone shoals connecting the Pamban Island and Sri Lanka’s northern coast. Environmental groups had opposed it, citing likely impact on marine life.

Government-owned engineering consultancy RITES is looking at existing global structures to find a suitable option, the official said.

The proposal to opt for a route bypassing the Ram Sethu is still in the draft stages and discussions so far have been limited to between the shipping ministry and RITES. A Cabinet note is expected to be drafted for various ministries to consider the plan, the official said.