Rameswaram:The Southern Railway (SR) general manager, Mr. R K Kulshrestha, accompanied by other railway officials on Friday did a surprise inspection of the facilities and level of cleanliness at the Rameswaram railway station, after which he indicated that the Government was mulling a new rail bridge over the sea linking Rameswaram to the Indian mainland at Mandapam.
However, there was no clarity on the issue, as it was not clear whether Mr. Kulshrestha meant replacing the central lifting spans of the famous cantilever bridge, or whether a new bridge to replace the present Pamban rail bridge was being contemplated. Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Kulshrestha said a new railway bridge linking Pamban on Rameswaram side to the mainland at Mandapam in Ramanathapuram district will be a huge project, which would mean shutting down the present rail bridge and stopping all railway traffic for nearly a year.
That would in turn cause great inconvenience to pilgrims and tourists visiting Rameswaram, where the ancient Sri Ramanathaswamy temple is located, he noted. "Hence, we are discussing whether the construction work on a new rail bridge over the sea could be taken up without affecting existing railway traffic," said the general manager.
The works would begin once these issues were resolved, added Mr Kulshrestha. Along with the Madurai RDM, Ms. Neenu Ittyerah, the general manager took a look at the dining facilities, restaurant, rest rooms, general hygiene and maintenance of the Rameswaram railway station among others.
