The Railway Board has instructed all its zones to inform the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) about the special features of significant and unique bridges during their design stages moving forward. This decision comes in response to findings from the Southern Circle Railway Safety Commissioner, AM Chowdhary, who identified serious lapses in the construction of the newly built Pamban Bridge in his investigation report last November, prior to clearing it for operation.

Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical-lift bridge, provides crucial rail connectivity between the mainland and Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu. The Railway Board’s directive, issued in a letter dated January 10 to general managers of all railway zones, outlines several measures to enhance the planning and construction of major bridges, ensuring smoother processes for their inspection and commissioning.

Under current railway procedures, the executing agency is required to prepare a Design Basis Report (DBR) for important bridges, which must be approved by the Chief Bridge Engineer. The Research Design and Standards Organization (RDSO) then reviews and clears the DBR. If needed, RDSO recommends forming a ‘Technical Advisory Group’ (TAG) to consult external experts.

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CRS needs to be informed about special features 

However, in the new guidelines issued by the Railway Board, an additional step has been added. The Commissioner of Railway Safety must now be informed about the special features or innovative aspects of the DBR and the recommendations made by the TAG. 

To streamline the inspection and approval process for major bridges, the Board has also suggested submitting necessary applications for minor sanctions to the CRS before construction begins. The application should include details such as General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) and calculations on the adequacy of waterways.

Previously, the CRS was typically involved only after a bridge’s completion to grant mandatory approval before operations could begin. A senior railway official noted that the involvement of CRS during the design stage is a direct result of the issues identified during the planning and execution phases of the Pamban Bridge construction. This proactive approach will allow any flaws to be addressed early on in the process.

CRS flags ‘glaring lapses’ in New Pamban rail bridge

The CRS’s inspection of the Pamban Bridge revealed that RDSO was not involved in the design of the 72-meter lift span girder, no TAG was formed, and multiple construction norms for vital bridges were overlooked. In response, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw confirmed that the CRS had been briefed on the project’s status, and clearance for its operation was granted.

Train services between Mandapam on the mainland and Rameswaram Island were suspended on December 23, 2022, after the 1913-built rail bridge was declared unsafe. Currently, trains terminate at Mandapam, with passengers using road routes to reach Rameswaram. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for a new parallel bridge in November 2019, with construction by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) beginning in February 2020. Originally slated for completion in December 2021, the project faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other factors.