Prime Minister Narendra Modi departed for Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu on Sunday to inaugurate the New Pamban Bridge, marking a significant milestone in India’s infrastructure development. His departure follows the conclusion of a three-day state visit to Sri Lanka, where he was seen off by Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake at the airport.
Coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, PM Modi will inaugurate the New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge. Stretching 2.07 kilometers across the Palk Strait, the bridge is a major engineering achievement and a symbol of the country’s commitment to modern connectivity.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the new bridge features a 72.5-meter vertical lift span and includes two tracks. It also comprises 88 approach spans, each constructed using 18.3-meter steel plate girders tailored for a single line.
The new bridge replaces the historic Pamban Bridge, originally built by British engineers in 1914. That structure, featuring a cantilever design with a Scherzer Rolling Lift span, connected Rameswaram Island to mainland India and has long served as a crucial link for pilgrims, tourists, and trade. The newly constructed bridge, sanctioned in 2019, sits three meters higher than its predecessor to accommodate modern maritime traffic and withstand the region’s challenging marine environment.
“The harsh marine conditions and increasing transportation needs called for a modern, technologically advanced solution. In 2019, the Central government approved the construction of a future-ready replacement,” the Railway Ministry stated.
Meanwhile, during his visit to Sri Lanka, PM Modi and President Dissanayake jointly inaugurated the track upgradation project of the Maho-Omanthai railway line, as well as the launch of a new advanced signalling and telecommunication system along the Maho-Anuradhapura section.
Highlighting the strong bilateral ties, PM Modi posted on X:
“Boosting connectivity and enhancing friendship! In Anuradhapura, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and I jointly inaugurated the track upgradation of the existing Maho-Omanthai railway line… India is proud to support Sri Lanka in various aspects of their development journey.”
The Prime Minister’s journey from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu reflects India’s dual focus on strengthening international partnerships and enhancing domestic infrastructure to support connectivity, trade, and cultural exchange.
