Blitz Bureau
INDIA’S first glass bridge over the sea in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu, was inaugurated recently by Chief Minister MK Stalin. The 77-metre-long bridge connects the Vivekananda Rock Memorial to the Tiruvalluvar statue, offering stunning views and adding to the tourist attraction of the area.
The bridge has been designed to provide a unique visual experience, with a transparent glass surface on which visitors will get an attractive and thrilling view of the sea below the bridge.
Earlier, tourists had to rely on ferry services to travel from the Kanyakumari boat jetty to the Vivekananda memorial and then to the Tiruvalluvar statue. With the inauguration of the glass bridge, visitors can now take a leisurely stroll between the two monuments, reducing travel time and providing a more comfortable option.
The Rs 37- crore project in Kanyakumari was initiated by the Tamil Nadu Government and inaugurated on December 30 to coincide with the silver jubilee of the unveiling of the Tiruvalluvar statue by late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. The glass bridge is 77 m (252 ft) long and 10 m wide, connecting two of the most iconic landmarks of the region – the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the 133-feet high Tiruvalluvar statue.
It offers visitors a unique experience, providing unobstructed views of the sea and the surrounding landscape. Apart from improving the visual appeal of the area, it also provides a more accessible and scenic route between these two monuments.
Designed like an arched vault, the glass bridge is as durable as it is attractive. The bridge is built using stateof-the-art technology and is designed to withstand harsh marine conditions including salt air, corrosion and strong sea winds.