Railways are all set to replace the 104-year-old Pamban Bridge with new vertical lift bridge. This will be India’s first bridge with stainless steel structurals. The bridge is expected to be complete in 4 years.
Indian Railways is planning to replace the 104-year-old Pamban Bridge with country’s first vertical-lift bridge. The cost of two-kilometre-long new Pamban Bridge is estimated at Rs. 250 crore.
The bridge is located in the second most corrosive region in the world which is why corrosion related problems and the associated high repair and maintenance costs have been the centre of discussion. In order to ensure that the new bridge has a long life, Indian Railways has decided to adopt duplex stainless steel for fabrication of 4 girders of the new Pamban Bridge.
Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), Chennai, has included SS 2205 duplex stainless steel grade as an integral component for the new bridge. RVNL has floated a tender for supply of 120 MT of stainless steel, the report added. This will be the first railway bridge in India to use stainless steel structurals.
According to the Railways, the new bridge will have a 63-metre stretch which will be lifted up parallel to the deck in order to allow ships, vessels to pass. It will have vertical lift span technology to allow the cross-navigation of vessels. The new technology will allow the bridge to provide navigational air clearance of 22-metre above sea level.
