Pilgrims To Gain Rail-Access To Ram Sethu As Rameshwaram-Dhanushkodi Project Gains Government Approval

Government of India has given a heads-up for the new broad gauge railway line that connects Rameshwaram and Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu, two major pilgrim destinations. At a cost of Rs 208 crore, the government will carry out the new project that includes the 17-km long railway line.

After the cyclone that devastated Dhanushkodi in 1964, adequate efforts had not been put to rebuild the historical place. Once a popular destination for tourism, it is now a ghost town and the railway station remains shattered. According to the Hindu tradition and beliefs, the pilgrimage is completed only when a person takes a dip in Dhanushkodi.

This railway line might be the starting point for the restoration plan of the rail-cum-sea route to island neighbour of Sri Lanka, Economic Times reported. A new railway bridge has been approved by the Indian Railways to be built over the Pamban channel. The current bridge is 104-year-old. The new lift-bridge will cost Rs 249 crore.

The bridge will be operated as an automatic electric one and is said to be one of the first in the country.