The Central government has given approval for laying a new broad gauge railway line connecting Rameshwaram with Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu. This is the starting point of Ram Sethu and a major pilgrim destination.
The 17 km line will see an investment of Rs 208 crore and it has been included in the umbrella work for new lines in FY19.
Dhanushkodi railway station was destroyed and abandoned after the 1964 Rameshwaram cyclone and it remained unattended. The railway line may also push the plan for restoration of a rail-cum-sea route to Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Railways has also approved building a new bridge on Pamban channel which will replace the 104 year-old structure over the sea. The vertical-lift bridge, to be built alongside the existing bridge at Rs 249 crore, will have the first vertical lift span in India.