PM Modi to open India’s first vertical lift Pamban railway bridge on Ram Navami: All about Rameswaram’s new landmark

On the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu where he will inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge and offer prayers at the Ramanathswamy temple.

The 2.5-kilometre-long Pamban bridge will allow trains to cross the sea between mainland India and the Rameswaram island in less than 5 minutes, as compared to 25-30 minutes through the old colonial-era bridge.

New Pamban bridge can handle faster trains

The new Pamban bridge, the first vertical lift bridge in Asia, will replace the old bridge, which was built in 1914 and closed in 2022 due to corrosion problems. It has been built at a cost of ₹535 crore by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

In November last year, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw posted on social media platform X about "India's first vertical lift railway sea bridge."

"Built in 1914, the old Pamban Rail Bridge connected the mainland to Rameswaram for 105 years. Decommissioned in Dec 2022 due to corrosion, it paved the way for the modern New Pamban Bridge, marking a new era of connectivity!" he had said.

"It's designed to handle faster trains and increased traffic. The New Pamban Bridge is not just functional - it's a symbol of progress, connecting people and places with modern engineering," he had said.

Speed limits set

Trials have been completed on the new bridge and safety certifications have also been received.

"The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph for the bridge, except for the vertical lift portion. The new bridge is designed for 80 kmph. Due to a curve, the CRS has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph. For the lift span alone, he has permitted 50 kmph," news agency PTI quoted N. Shrinivasan, senior deputy general manager of RVNL, as saying in February.

The new bridge will be operated by an electromechanical system to enable maritime movement and it takes 5 minutes to lift the bridge and just one person can perform it, Shrinivasan had said.

Wind velocity remains an issue

However, the lifting mechanism cannot be operated when wind velocity reaches 58 kmph or beyond, a frequent occurrence between October and February.

The old bridge was the only connection to the pilgrimage destination Rameswaram and the popular tourist spot of Dhanushkodi from 1914 until 1988, when a road bridge was commissioned next to it.

Until the road bridge was constructed in 1988, train services were the only link between Mandapam and Rameswaram Island, situated in the Gulf of Mannar.