Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram is an engineering marvel. Here are 5 quick facts about India’s first Cantilever bridge

The bridge’s strength was gauged in December 1964, when a severe cyclonic storm hit this part of the area. All the girders, both RCC and steel were washed away but the Scherzer’s span withstood nature’s fury. A team of Indian engineers, led by the then Assistant Engineer E Sreedharan (Metro man Sreedharan) salvaged the girders and put the bridge back on the rails in just five months.

Former President A.P.J.Abdul Kalam, who was from Rameswaram island, suggested strengthening the Pamban bridge and going for gauge conversion. After obtaining expert opinions from IIT-Chennai and structural engineers, the bridge was strengthened to broad gauge standard and train services resumed in 2007. The bridge was further strengthened in 2009 for running of goods traffic.

The Pamban Bridge has a double-leaf bascule section, that can be raised to let tall ships pass, that is still functional even though it was constructed a century ago. The section was implemented so that the then established ferry service would not be disrupted by erection of piers.

A proposal on “Indo-Ceylon project” was sent to the British Parliament for building a rail bridge from Mandapam to Pamban and from Danushkodi to Thalaimannar at the tune of Rs 299 lakh, which was rejected as the cost was too high. However, Pamban rail bridge got a green flag at a cost Rs 70 lakh in 1880.