The new bridge allows trains to travel at speeds of up to 80 kmph, a significant improvement over the 10 kmph limit on the old structure. It also eliminates the need for ships to detour around Dhanushkodi, cutting nearly 150 km from their journey, and improving efficiency for regional fishing and cargo operations.
Published Apr 06, 2025 | 4:37 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 06, 2025 | 4:43 PM
The new Pamban Bridge (X)
Synopsis: The New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, replaces the 110-year-old original structure and is equipped with a 72.5-metre lift span and designed for high-speed trains. Inaugurated on Saturday by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the ₹531 crore project also features future-ready infrastructure resilient to cyclones and corrosion.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday, 5 April, inaugurated India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, connecting Mandapam on the Tamil Nadu mainland with Rameswaram island.
The New Pamban Bridge replaces the iconic 110-year-old Pamban rail bridge and is expected to boost regional transport, tourism, and economic development.
The first train to cross the bridge carried railway workers and local school students, symbolically marking a new chapter in the historic rail link’s legacy. The bridge is equipped for future electrification and double-tracking.
PM Modi arrived in Mandapam via Indian Air Force helicopter after concluding an official visit to Sri Lanka.
The original Pamban rail bridge, built in 1914, played a vital role in connecting the mainland to the pilgrimage town of Rameswaram. For 75 years – until the construction of a road bridge in 1988 – it served as the only link to the island.
Once, it even enabled travel from Chennai to Colombo on a single ticket.
Constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL) at an estimated cost of ₹531 crore, the 2.07-kilometre-long bridge stretches across the Palk Strait.
It features a 72.5-metre-long vertical lift span that can rise up to 17 metres, allowing large vessels and fishing boats to pass.
The lift mechanism, operational in under five minutes, was developed with hydraulic and electromechanical systems in collaboration with international partners, including Germany and the United States.
The new bridge allows trains to travel at speeds of up to 80 kmph, a significant improvement over the 10 kmph limit on the old structure.
It also eliminates the need for ships to detour around Dhanushkodi, cutting nearly 150 km from their journey, and improving efficiency for regional fishing and cargo operations.
Launched in 2019, the new bridge project faced delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclonic weather, before completion.
The bridge is designed to withstand the cyclone-prone Palk Strait’s harsh conditions, including wind speeds of up to 140 kmph.
Its construction involved over 4,500 metric tonnes of structural steel and 5,772 metric tonnes of stainless-steel reinforcement, chosen for its resistance to saltwater corrosion.
It incorporates wind-resistant and earthquake-resilient features, and is expected to last over 100 years with minimal maintenance in its first 35 years.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
