Skip to main content

India mulls feasibility of bridge over Palk Straight to Sri Lanka

India will carry out a feasibility study on a road link between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, a federal government minister has said. "It needs the consent of both countries,” said Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan. “The project needs to be discussed at various levels," according to a brief report by India’s Hindu newspaper. Radhakrishnan told the reporters that federal government had begun consultations to carry out a
October 27, 2015 Read time: 2 mins
India will carry out a feasibility study on a road link between Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu state and Thalaimannar in Sri Lanka, a federal government minister has said.
 
"It needs the consent of both countries,” said Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan. “The project needs to be discussed at various levels," according to a brief report by India’s Hindu newspaper.

Radhakrishnan told the reporters that federal government had begun consultations to carry out a feasibility study on various possibilities.

Palk Strait is named after Robert Palk, a British governor of Madras Presidency during the 18th century.

The strait connects the Bay of Bengal in the northeast with Palk Bay and the Gulf of Mannar in the southwest. However, at its narrowest point, it is studded with a 30km chain of low islands and reef shoals collectively called Adam's Bridge. One of the Indian islands, Rameswaram, is linked to the mainland by the 2km Pamban Road Bridge that opened in 1988. It runs parallel to the much older Pamban Rail Bridge, which was built in 1914.

In June, Mumbai-based dna newspaper reported that a proposal for providing road and rail link bridging the divide across Palk Strait had been submitted to the Asian Development Bank, for a pre-feasibility study and subsequent financing.

A “makeshift ferry service” now connects the two closest points. Union minister for road transport and highways at the time, Nitin Gadkari, said the link could be a combination of bridge and sea tunnel, dna reported.

Related Content

  • Turkey’s important new tunnel will improve transport links
    May 18, 2016
    Major advances in tunnelling will allow cars to travel underneath the Bosphorus sea channel in Turkey's Istanbul next year when its third road link is opened, writes Adrian Greeman. The Bosphorus is redolent with history and strategic significance. As one of the world's most significant sea connections, linking the landlocked Black Sea to the Marmara Sea and the Mediterranean beyond, it has been vitally important for trade and crucial for military access. It is also one of the biggest obstacles for land tra
  • India looks to boost spending on roads for 2015/16
    September 15, 2015
    India’s ministry of transport and highways is seeking an additional US$1.17 billion on top of a record spend for road construction and maintenance. The ministry has already earmarked nearly $11 billion for the year 2015/16. The government recently announced plans to build a new 600km highway connecting Katra with New Delhi. The route, costing around $2.25 billion, will run through Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir states. A consultant is being selected to carry out a feasibility study for the project
  • Finland ploughs ahead with a planned Hailuoto causeway
    May 8, 2018
    Finland’s planned 8km Hailuoto Causeway is likely to cost around €74 million, according to the North Ostrobothnia Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment.
  • Fehmarn tunnel cleared for construction
    October 18, 2021
    The 17.6km Fehmarnbelt tunnel will be between Germany and Denmark.