Railway bridge across Ponnai damaged; repairs taken up
The Hindu
Support columns being erected around damaged brick-and-mortar pillar
The restoration of the damaged railway bridge across the Ponnai, a tributary of the Palar, in Vellore district has been going on since Thursday. Support columns are being erected around the damaged brick and mortar pillar.
The British-era bridge, on the Arakkonam-Katpadi section of the Chennai Division of Southern Railway, connects Tiruvalam and Mukundarayapuram, the border stations of Vellore and Ranipet districts.
Built in 1865, the bridge has 56 pillars, covering 914 metres. These pillars, railway officials say, have a lifespan of 60 years. Such British-era bridges were identified for demolition by Southern Railway a few years ago. The Elephant Gate bridge, built in 1915 between Chennai Central and Basin Bridge Junction, is an example.