19.6.15

Bridge-tunnel to Sri Lanka planned

In a bid to build a road and rail link connecting India with its southern neighbour Sri Lanka, a proposal of a sea bridge and tunnel has been forwarded to the Asian Development Bank for pre-feasibility study and subsequent financing. A government source said that the proposed project would be a combination of a bridge and underwater tunnel between Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu and the Sri Lankan border, a distance of about 22 km. The project would cost around Rs.20,000 crore.
“The proposed project will be a combination of bridge and underwater tunnel. Underwater tunnel will cover a small portion. This is being done to allow unhindered movement of ships through the channel. There are similar such underwater tunnels in other parts of the world,“ said a government source. He added that the project would in no way damage the Ram Sethu.
Confirming the proposal, road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the distance between Dhanushkodi in Rameswaram and Sri Lanka was about 22-23 km. The proposed sea-bridge would help increase the trans-SAARC road and transport network. He said the project could cost around Rs.20,000 crore. Ministry sources said the new link will be between Rameswaram and Mannar island in Sri Lanka.“There is a missing link of narrow corridor of about 22 km and is presently serviced through makeshift ferry vessels. Once this project is completed, trans-Asia road and transport network could be extended to Sri Lanka,“ an official said.
He added that pillars can be erected on the seabed where the water depth is less so that a bridge can be built. “But where the water is deep we will build a submersible tunnel for both unhindered traffic flow through tunnel and movement of vessels through the sea. That's why the cost is likely to be high,“ the official said.

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