Pamban Bridge across Palk strait near Rameshwaram, India

Rameswaram is a well-known pilgrim centre and tourist island in the southern part of India, attracting thousands of pilgrims and tourists daily. The only link to the island across the most hostile sea and environment has been the railway line, apart from occasional ferry service. As the area is prone to frequent cyclonic storms, with the railway bridge badly damaged in December 1964, there was a fervent need for a high level road bridge in this missing link of N.H.49 for a long time. Considering the significance of the need, the Government of India - Ministry of Surface Transport, sanctioned the bridge project in 1972. Though the work started in 1974, it got suspended in 1978, and restarted in 1982 and completed in 1988. The article brings out the design and construction of this project located in the world’s most corrosive atmosphere.