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‘First ever’ glass bridge opened in India's southernmost tip | Key details
Glass bridge connecting Vivekananda memorial, Thiruvalluvar statue inaugurated in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu chief minister MK Stalin on Monday inaugurated a glass bridge connecting the Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the 133-feet Thiruvalluvar statue in the Kanyakumari district.
The structure claimed to be the first such one in India, was inaugurated to mark the silver jubilee of the unveiling of the renowned Tamil poet Thiruvalluvar's statue by late chief minister M Karunanidhi.
The glass bridgeconnecting the two monuments offers visitors a breathtaking view of the sea. “It provides a thrilling experience of walking above the sea,” a tourist official told news agency PTI.
Key details about Kanyakumari glass bridge
The glass bridge is 77-meter-long, 10-metre wide and 133-feet high.
According to the state government, the bowstring arch on the glass bridge has been designed to withstand the saline breeze from the sea and high humidity.
Tourists who used to travel between the two historical monuments on a ferry can now walk over the glass bridge and reach the other end quickly.
Politics over glass bridge
After the inauguration, Stalin walked over the bridge accompanied by deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, state ministers, MP Kanimozhi, and senior officials. A laser light show was held at the Thiruvalluvar statue.
Stalin hailed the legacy of the Tamil poet and announced that last week of every December will be celebrated as “Thrirukkural week” to spread the poet's teaching in his renowned work “Thirukkural”.
Meanwhile, opposition AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami said the project was sanctioned and granted environmental clearance during his tenure as the chief minister.
“Chief Minister M K Stalin who inaugurated the glass bridge in Kanyakumari on Monday evening did not bring the project. It was brought during the AIADMK regime when I was the Chief Minister,” Palaniswami told reporters here.
“Since Kanyakumari is a very popular tourist destination, I requested (union shipping minister) that a bridge be built to link Thiruvalluvar statue with the Vivekananda Rock Memorial,” he added.
(With PTI inputs)
