Image Credit: https://www.pmindia.gov.in/
PM Modi Inaugurates New Pamban Bridge, India’s First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge on April 6, 2025, at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu, marking the completion of one of India’s most advanced infrastructure projects. The bridge, India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, connects Mandapam on the mainland with Rameswaram on Pamban Island and replaces the iconic 1914 structure.
This engineering marvel stretches over two kilometers and is built with modern specifications to accommodate increased rail traffic and future electrification. Its most notable feature is a 72.5-meter-long vertical lift span that can rise to allow ships and barges to pass beneath, significantly improving maritime and rail coordination. This span replaces the outdated manually operated Scherzer rolling lift system used in the previous bridge.
Elevated around three meters higher than its predecessor, the new bridge offers a 22-meter navigational air clearance above sea level. Structurally, it comprises 99 spans of 18.3 meters each, along with the central vertical lift section. It has been constructed to handle double railway lines, making it future-ready for greater transport loads.
Construction of the bridge officially began in February 2020, following the foundation stone laying in November 2019. Despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and technical complexities, the project was completed by September 2024. It underwent extensive safety inspections and trial runs before receiving the green light from the Commission of Railway Safety in November 2024.
In his inauguration speech, Prime Minister Modi highlighted the bridge as a symbol of India’s engineering capabilities and a critical development for South India’s transport infrastructure. He emphasized the bridge’s role in improving connectivity to Rameswaram—a vital pilgrimage and tourist destination—and its potential to stimulate local tourism and regional economic growth.
The New Pamban Bridge is set to replace the 110-year-old structure that had long served as a lifeline to Rameswaram, heralding a new era of high-tech, reliable, and efficient rail connectivity in the region.
