Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Pamban bridge, India’s first Vertical lift Railway Sea Bridge connecting the mainland of India with Rameswaram Island. PM Modi arrived in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram after concluding his three-day visit State visit to Sri Lanka. The first train from Tambaram to Rameswaram via the new Pamban Bridge was flagged off during the inauguration ceremony. Pamban bridge’s inauguration coincided with the occasion of Ram Navami. The Ministry of Railways said that 2.07-kilometre-long New Pamban Bridge, spanning the Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu, stands as a testament to India’s engineering prowess and visionary infrastructure development.
The bridge has one vertical lift spanning 72.5 metres with two tracks. The approach has 88 spans of 18.3-metre steel plate girders fabricated for a single line. With its inauguration, the train services will begin shortly. “Blending heritage with innovation, the New Pamban Bridge not only preserves the cultural and historical importance of the region but also marks a significant leap forward in design, connectivity, and regional development,” said the Ministry of Railways.
Interestingly, the story of the bridge dates back to 1914, when British engineers built the original Pamban bridge. It featured a cantilever structure (a long piece of metal or wood that extends from a wall to support the bridge’s end) with a Scherzer Rolling Lift span, linking Rameswaram Island with mainland India. However, the new bridge, approved in 2019, is three meters higher than the existing one, enhancing sea connectivity. The bridge has served as a lifeline for pilgrims, tourists and trade over the years.
“However, the harsh marine environment and growing transportation demands necessitated a modern solution. In 2019, the Central government sanctioned the construction of a technologically advanced, future-ready replacement,” read the Railway Ministry’s statement on Pamban bridge.
The ministry further said that the bridge has been constructed with stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints. Moreover, a special polysiloxane coating protects it from corrosion and ensures longevity in the harsh marine environment.
The Ministry of Railways had announced in 2020 that the 2.07 km long Vertical span New Pamban Bridge will soon become a reality!
Gateway to Rameswaram Island: The new bridge will be a boon for Pilgrims and devotees who wish to embark on a spiritual tour to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.
The vertical lift bridge, India’s first of its kind, draws inspiration from the moving rail bridges in Germany and Spain.
The new Pamban railway bridge connects Rameswaram island to the mainland in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry, in 2022 had informed that till Date, 84% of the construction work has been completed.
The sea bridge is being constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 535 crores. RVNL has ensured the bridge met higher speed, load, and maritime requirements.
The bridge will allow the Indian Railways to operate trains at a higher speed. It will also increase traffic between the mainland of India and Rameswaram island.
Notably, the existing Pamban Rail Bridge, which connects Rameswaram to mainland India, is 105 years old. The original bridge was built in 1914 to connect Mandapam to the Rameswaram island situated in the Gulf of Mannar. It was the only link connecting the two locations until a new road bridge was built parallel to the sea link in 1988.
