Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated India’s first vertical lift sea bridge — the New Pamban Bridge — in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.
The newly constructed rail bridge connects Rameswaram Island to mainland India and has been built at a cost of ₹550 crore.
The 2.08-kilometre-long structure comprises 99 spans, including a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises 17 metres to allow large ships to pass without halting train movement.
The bridge, which replaces the century-old cantilever-style original, has been hailed as a feat of modern engineering designed to withstand the harsh marine environment of the Palk Strait.
Rooted in mythology, the Pamban Bridge holds immense spiritual significance. According to the Ramayana, the construction of the Ram Setu — the legendary bridge to Lanka — began from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.
The Prime Minister is also scheduled to offer prayers at the sacred Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram and later lay the foundation stone and dedicate to the nation various infrastructure projects worth over ₹8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu.
Also read: India’s first sea lift rail bridge to open in Rameswaram
“The Prime Minister would inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge and flag off Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) new train service, and a Coast Guard Ship will be flagged off as the Vertical Lift Span rises up to make way, and witness the operation of the bridge,” a government release stated.
The bridge incorporates stainless steel reinforcements, high-grade protective paints, and fully welded joints — all contributing to enhanced durability and reduced maintenance. A special polysiloxane coating further shields the bridge from corrosion, ensuring longevity in the saline atmosphere.
Engineered by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna public sector undertaking under the Ministry of Railways, the project faced numerous challenges, including environmental constraints, high winds, and rough waters in the Palk Strait.
The original Pamban Bridge, constructed in 1914 by British engineers, served as a vital link for pilgrims and traders for over a century. It featured a Scherzer Rolling Lift span and symbolised the connection between faith and function.
In 2019, the Government of India approved the construction of a modern replacement, which has now come to fruition under the current dispensation.
Modi is also expected to dedicate the new Coast Guard vessel during the occasion, coinciding with the operational demonstration of the bridge’s vertical lift mechanism.
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