Panel flags safety lapses in new ₹531cr Pamban bridge, compares it to 'century-old marvel'

THE Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), who carried out safety inspection on the new railway sea bridge at Pamban on November 13-14, has said that the century-old Pamban Bridge is a technical marvel but the newly-constructed one is built with glaring lapses in planning and execution.

- M S THANARAJ

AM Chowdhary, CRS, Southern Circle, however, has authorised operation of trains with speed restriction on the new bridge. Considering the safety of the century-old railway sea bridge in Pamban, the railways had started the construction of the new bridge next to the old one in 2019 at a cost of ₹531 crore.

The CRS has pointed out various lapses in planning and execution, including the center lift grider not being in conformity with the Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO) design. CRS in its report said, "It is unfortunate that the railway board has been flouting its own guidelines by disassociating the RDSO from the project."

CRS also pointed out that adequate measures have not been taken to address corrosion, since the area is known to have the second worst corrosive environment in the world.

"Effects of corrosion are very severe even before the commissioning of the bridge. Railways must get some new methods to protect the bridge as the existing method is inadequate," the CRS said.