In a historic moment for India’s infrastructure development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the occasion of Ram Navami inaugurated the country’s first vertical-lift sea bridge — the New Pamban Bridge — in Tamil Nadu. This engineering marvel, constructed over the Palk Strait, is now being hailed alongside iconic global bridges such as the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States, Tower Bridge in the United Kingdom, and the Oresund Bridge linking Denmark and Sweden. The Prime Minister’s visit also included the inauguration of significant transportation projects and a religious visit to the revered Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram.
The New Pamban Bridge spans 2.07 kilometers and connects Rameswaram Island with Mandapam on the mainland in the Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. This state-of-the-art infrastructure, developed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna public sector unit under the Ministry of Railways, has been built at a cost exceeding ₹700 crore. It is a major step in enhancing rail connectivity to Rameswaram, a prominent pilgrimage destination and tourist hub.
A standout feature of the new bridge is its 72.5-meter-long navigational span, which can be lifted vertically up to 17 meters. This allows for seamless passage of ships and maritime vessels beneath it — a design feature that makes it India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge. It is currently operating as a single-line railway bridge but has been designed to accommodate dual tracks, providing capacity for future expansion in rail traffic. The bridge can support train speeds of up to 80 kmph and has been built to endure heavier loads and increased frequency of trains.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the New Pamban Bridge is its engineering excellence aimed at ensuring longevity and durability. Designed with a projected lifespan of 100 years, it incorporates cutting-edge construction technologies, including stainless steel reinforcements, fully welded joints, and a polysiloxane coating that provides corrosion resistance against the saline marine atmosphere. The use of high-grade protective paints and minimal-maintenance techniques reinforces the bridge’s ability to perform optimally in one of the harshest coastal environments in India.
The new vertical-lift bridge replaces the century-old Pamban Bridge, originally built in 1914 by British engineers. The earlier structure was a Scherzer’s rolling lift bridge, manually operated to allow vessel movement. Due to safety concerns and structural limitations, the old bridge was decommissioned for rail traffic, prompting the construction of this modern counterpart to meet current transportation and connectivity demands.
During the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Modi also flagged off a Coast Guard ship that passed under the newly operational bridge and launched the new Rameswaram–Tambaram (Chennai) train, marking a boost in both regional connectivity and national logistics infrastructure. He also laid the foundation stones for road and railway development projects in Tamil Nadu valued at over ₹8,300 crore, reinforcing the Centre’s commitment to robust infrastructure growth in the southern state.
The Prime Minister’s visit, which came after a three-day diplomatic tour of Sri Lanka, also included spiritual offerings at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram, adding cultural significance to the occasion. With the launch of the New Pamban Bridge, India has added another jewel to its growing crown of engineering and infrastructure milestones, blending advanced technology with strategic connectivity in a region of immense religious, economic, and tourism importance.
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