PM Modi Inaugurates India’s First Vertical-Lift Sea Bridge in Tamil Nadu on Ram Navami

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Apr 6, 2025: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge in Tamil Nadu, marking a significant milestone in the country’s infrastructure development. The inauguration coincided with the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami.

As part of the event, the Prime Minister also flagged off a Coast Guard vessel, which sailed under the newly constructed bridge, and launched the Rameswaram–Tambaram (Chennai) train service. PM Modi, who arrived in Tamil Nadu after a three-day visit to Sri Lanka, also offered prayers at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram and laid the foundation stone for multiple rail and road projects worth over ₹8,300 crore.

According to the Ministry of Railways, the 2.07-km-long New Pamban Bridge spans the Palk Strait and connects Rameswaram Island with Mandapam on the mainland in Ramanathapuram district. Built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways, at a cost of over ₹700 crore, the bridge is hailed as a feat of modern engineering.

The highlight of the structure is its 72.5-metre-long navigational span, which can be lifted vertically up to 17 metres to allow ships to pass beneath. The bridge is designed to accommodate two railway tracks—although currently operational as a single line—and supports train speeds up to 80 kmph, with the capacity to handle heavier loads and increased rail traffic.

With a projected lifespan of 100 years, the bridge has been constructed using advanced engineering techniques aimed at minimizing maintenance. It incorporates stainless steel reinforcements, fully welded joints, high-grade protective coatings, and a polysiloxane layer to resist corrosion in the marine environment.

The New Pamban Bridge is being compared to iconic international structures such as the Golden Gate Bridge (USA), Tower Bridge (UK), and the Oresund Bridge (Denmark–Sweden) for its design and technological sophistication.

The original Pamban Bridge, built in 1914 by British engineers, featured a manually operated Scherzer’s span lift mechanism. It was recently decommissioned due to safety concerns, paving the way for this modern replacement.