Title - Railways seeks compensation from shipping firm for bridge damage

Railways on Tuesday sought a Rs 1.5 crore compensation from the owners of the barge which damaged the century-old railway bridge near Pamban while towing a naval ship, which had ran aground.A case had been registered at Mandapam Coastal Police Station against the Management of Kolkata based Corporate Shipping Company, owners of the barge, for damaging the bridge, India’s first cantilever railway bridge across the Palk Strait connecting the mainland with the Rameswaram Island.The barge would be allowed to leave only after paying the compensation, Sivaraman, Chief Engineer, Madurai Division of Southern Railway, said.The barge drifted and collided with the British era bridge on January 13 disrupting rail link to the island.The ship bound for Karwar in Karnataka ran aground on January 10 as it was being towed from Kolkata when strong winds swept them (ship and barge) close to the shores near the Pamban bridge connecting the island with mainland.One of the pillars of the bridge was damaged heavily in the impact of the collision, Sivaraman said.The barge, which had struck between rocks, would be pulled back soon with the help of ships from Tuticorin port, official sources said. Meanwhile, Commander P Sathyanarayanan, Naval Detachment, Rameswaram, said it was up to the management of the Shipping company to provide compensation for the damage to the railway bridge as the barge belonged to them.PTI