 "Quicksplained: All about India’s first glass bridge over sea in Tamil Nadu")
India has got its first glass bridge over the sea. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday (December 30) inaugurated a 77-meter-long and 10-metre-wide bridge that connects the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar statue in Kanniyakumari.
The glass bridge offers breathtaking views of the sea below. The new bridge was built by the Tamil Nadu government at the cost of Rs 37 crore, which will cut the travel time for tourists from one monument to another.
Here’s why the bridge is special.
1. The inauguration of the glass bridge in Tamil Nadu coincided with the silver jubilee of the unveiling of the Thiruvalluvar statue. The 133-foot tall statue built on one of the rocks in the sea was inaugurated on January 1, 2000, by the then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi . Known as the “Statue of Wisdom”, the Thiruvalluvar statue weighs 7,000 tonnes and is a major tourist attraction.
2. The state-of-the-art glass bridge is designed to withstand corrosion and strong sea winds. It is also resistant to potential damage from exposure to high humidity. “It provides a thrilling experience of walking above the sea,” a tourist official told PTI.
India gets first glass bridge over sea in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.#TamilNadu CM @mkstalin unveils the classic glass bridge that connects the 133 ft tall Saint Tiruvalluvar statue and the Vivekananda Rock Memorial. pic.twitter.com/dw1nyfYcSy
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 31, 2024
3. The bowstring arch bridge is expected to boost tourism in Kanyakumari, which attracts thousands of visitors daily to watch the sunrise and sunset. The glass bridge will save the time of tourists who earlier had to wait for ferry services, from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial , to go to the Thiruvalluvar statue.
4. Due to the rough sea and low tides, many times ferries could not dock near the Tiruvalluvar Statue. This resulted in visitors viewing the statue from the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, as per The Hindu report.
5. Now, the Tamil Nadu government has addressed this issue by constructing the bridge between the two monuments. Tamil Nadu Public Works and Highways Minister EV Velu had earlier said, “Constructing the bridge is very challenging. We had to seek experts’ help to construct it over the rough sea and considering other factors like erosion, wind speed, etc.” He expressed confidence that the bridge will become a tourist attraction in Kanyakumari.
6. Tourists can now traverse the bridge, reducing travel time between the two landmarks and saving ferry fares. The covered bridge will give tourists a spectacular view of the sea, making it a picturesque experience.
7. After inaugurating the bridge on Monday, Tamil Nadu CM Stalin, accompanied by Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin, state ministers, MP Kanimozhi, and senior officials, took a walk across the bridge. The construction of the glass bridge aligns with the state government’s aim to develop Kanniyakumari as a premier tourist spot.
With inputs from agencies
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