| Palk Strait bridge and tunnel | |
| Crosses: | Palk Strait |
| Official Name: | India-Sri Lanka Binational Bridge and Tunnel |
| Owner: | Government of India and Government of Sri Lanka |
| Length: | 23km (14miles) |
| Begin: | No details |
| Complete: | No details |
The Palk Strait Bridge and Tunnel is a proposed 23km (14miles) road and rail bridge and tunnel over the Palk Strait between Dhanushkodi in Tamil Nadu (a state in Southern India) and Talaimannar on Mannar Island, an island off the northwestern coast of Sri Lanka. During the 2002-2004 Peace Accord, the then Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, asked India to help build what he called the ‘Hanuman Bridge’.[1]
In June 2015, Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of the Republic of India, submitted the proposal to the Asian Development Bank. In December 2015, the Minister of Transport and Highways of Sri Lanka, Lakshman Kiriella dismissed the proposal.[2] [3]
A feasibility study of the bridge-tunnel combination was done in 2018.[4] The study says it would increase trade, tourism and employment. It also says it's technically feasible and economically viable.
During a two day visit of Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickramasinghe to India in July 2023, both nations agreed to conduct a feasibility study for a proposed bridge connecting India and Sri Lanka. The bridge aims to enhance trade, tourism, and overall connectivity between the two countries. The study will evaluate technical, economic, and environmental aspects to determine the project's viability. This significant step is expected to foster closer ties and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka.[5] In July 2024, the Sri Lankan President said that the feasibility study on the proposed bridge is in its final stages.[6]