Chennai: The restoration of the damaged railway bridge across the Ponnai, a tributary of the Palar, in Vellore district was completed on Sunday following which train services which were hit for three days resumed last night.
Railway officials have appreciated workers for completing the task on a warfooting. Support columns were 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.
Many trains plying from Chennai to Katpadi and vice versa were diverted or cancelled after a railway bridge developed cracks.
According to the divisional railway manager, heavy and unprecedented rainfall in the region and overflowing of the Ponnai river had damaged the bridge.
Officials said the discharge of 1,04,054 cusecs from the Ponnai and Palar anaicuts on 19 November, followed by a daily discharge of 60,000 cusecs-80,000 cusecs, could have damaged the old bridge.