PM Modi inaugurates India's first vertical lift sea bridge in Tamil Nadu
Rooted in Ramayana days, the Pamban Bridge holds deep spiritual significance, as the Ramayana recounts the construction of Ram Setu beginning from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.
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| New Pamban Bridge connects Rameswaram with mainland Bharat |
"On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force," PM tweeted.
India’s first vertical lift sea bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram was inaugurated today (Apr 6) on the occasion of Ram Navami.
The rail bridge, known as Pamban, has been built at a cost of Rs 550 crore.
Close to 30 trains, with up and down journeys, are expected from Rameswaram station. The island will have direct trains from Secunderabad, Kanniyakumari, Bhubaneswar, Okha, and Firozpur Cantt, apart from Ayodhya, Varanasi and Chennai.
Executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, the project navigated significant challenges—from environmental constraints and logistical hurdles to the rough waters and strong winds of the Palk Strait.
The bridge holds deep spiritual significance, as the Ramayana recounts the construction of Ram Setu beginning from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.
Connecting Rameswaram to mainland India, the bridge has been built at a cost of Rs 550 crore. The 2.08-km-long structure features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that elevates to 17 metres, enabling the smooth passage of large ships without disrupting train services.
Designed to be future-ready, the bridge incorporates stainless steel reinforcements, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints for enhanced durability and reduced maintenance. It is also equipped for dual rail tracks, anticipating future traffic needs. A special polysiloxane coating guards it against corrosion, ensuring a long service life in the challenging marine environment.
The original Pamban Bridge, constructed in 1914 by British engineers, was a cantilever structure featuring a Scherzer Rolling Lift span. For over a century, it served as a crucial link for pilgrims, tourists, and traders travelling to and from Rameswaram Island.
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| Trains will cross the Bay of Bengal to reach the stations on Pamban island |
Two railway stations in Tamil Nadu – Mandapam and Pamban – are close to five kilometres apart and have been connected by trains since 1914 when the Pamban Bridge was built by the British. A couple of trains were crossing the stations daily. But the Pamban Bridge was getting old and couldn’t bear the burden of these trains.
Of the five km distance between the two stations, two kilometres is the length of the Bay of Bengal between the mainland of India and Pamban island. While Mandapam was the last railway station on mainland India, Pamban is a small station situated on Pamban island, which further connects to the Rameswaram railway station.
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