Asia's First Two-tier Bridge - the Pride of Tirunelveli

By -

The people of Tirunelveli and its surrounding areas hold a special affection for a significant landmark in their city that is affectionately known as "Irattai Paalam." They take great pride in calling it Eradukku Mempaalam, and officially, it is recognized as the Tiruvalluvar Eradukku Mempaalam. Not many know that it is the first two-tier bridge of Tamil Nadu...of entire India,....hold on... of the whole of Asia. Such a pride!

This engineering marvel is one of the many sources of pride in the city, along with the Courtallam waterfalls, the Nellaiyappar Temple, historic cinema halls, and the renowned Halwa. Whether referred to by its official name or its local nicknames, the Tiruvalluvar Eradukku Mempaalam is a testament to the ingenuity of its designers and engineers. It is a source of wonder and inspiration for all who visit or live in Tirunelveli.



Supported by 25 cross piers, the Tiruvalluvar Eradukku Mempaalam bridge stretches 800 meters long and is 8 meters wide. It is designed to accommodate both light and heavy vehicles. The first tier is open to bicycles, two-wheelers, and light vehicles, while the upper deck is reserved for heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks.

In 1969, the then Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi laid the foundation stone for the flyover, and it was completed in 1973 at the cost of Rupees 47 lakhs. On 13th November 1973, he inaugurated the flyover. Now, the pride of Nellai turned 50 years old.

Happy travelling.



Location: Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Tallest Murugan of Chennai

By -
Image
Consecrated in March 2021, the 40 feet high Bala Murugan icon at Saveetha Medical College campus is the tallest image of Murugan in Chennai. Malaysia has 140 feet tall Murugan. In April 2022, the 146 feet tall image of Murugan was consecrated near Salem in Tamil Nadu. However, they are all stucco images. But, the one that we find on the college campus is a monolithic granite icon. Thus, it is the tallest stone icon of Murugan in the entire world. A stone weighing 320 tonnes was brought from Siruvambur near Wallajah, and it was carved to 140 tonnes to get this beautiful and gigantic sculpture. The entire temple complex is designed in the shape of the Devanagiri letter "Om", which can be appreciated in the aerial view.  The west-facing gigantic sculpture is located atop the star-shaped pedestal. It dominates the entire landscape. A large meditation hall is situated below the pedestal. On the open corridor in front of the presiding deity, smaller shrines are found. They enshrine...
Read more

Little known Nimishamba Temple of Chennai

By -
Image
Site Name:  Nimishamba Temple Site Type:  Hindu Temple Location:   Kasi Chetty Street, Sowcarpet, Chennai city, Tamil Nadu state, India Highlights:   A rare temple of Nimishamba in Chennai city Nearest Railway Station:   Chennai - well connected from the cities/towns all over India Nearest Airport:   Chennai has both national and international airports How to reach:   Easily reachable by road as this is centrally located in the city Hotel:  Many star hotels, luxury hotels/resorts, and budget hotels are available in Chennai Restaurants:  All options - vegetarian, non-vegetarian, Chinese, South Indian, Gujarati, North Indian, Punjabi,....- you can find everything in Chennai city Chennai is considered as the gateway to South India. The capital city of Tamil Nadu state of India has hundreds of tourist sites which include museum, British period monuments, temples, beach, etc. Let us explore a little known temple called Nimisham...
Read more

Hastinapuram Navapashanam Murugan Temple

By -
Image
Navapashanam is an amalgam of nine poisonous herbs. It is said to act as a remedy for all types of diseases. It is believed that the Siddhas knew the secret formula to prepare this medicinal potion.  The sculpture of Murugan from the famous Palani is claimed to be made of Navapashanam. Similarly, there is a lesser-known temple near Chennai, which has a Navapashanam Murugan. In Hastinapuram near Chrompet in the southern outskirts of Chennai, in a congested lane called Masjid Street, this tiny temple of Bala Murugan is situated. Murugan, made of Navapashanam, is the presiding deity.  Jalakandeeswara Linga, Meenakshi, and the Siddha who found this temple are the other Murtis found in the temple. Happy travelling.
Read more