Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, marking a significant leap in the country’s infrastructure and connectivity capabilities.
Spanning 2.07 kilometres across the Palk Strait, the bridge connects Rameswaram Island to mainland India and stands as a symbol of India’s engineering excellence and forward-looking development. The state-of-the-art bridge was constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a Navratna public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways.
PM Modi, accompanied by Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, also flagged off the first train to traverse the new sea bridge. A live demonstration showcased the vertical lift mechanism in action as an Indian Coast Guard (ICG) boat smoothly passed beneath the elevated span, followed by a train crossing the bridge—highlighting its maritime clearance and structural strength.
Earlier in the day, Minister Vaishnaw, while hoisting the BJP flag on the bridge site in celebration of the BJP’s Foundation Day, congratulated party workers and reiterated the party’s commitment to the nation-first philosophy.
“The resolve of Antyodaya and the spirit of ‘Nation First, Always First’… Heartfelt congratulations to all workers on the BJP Foundation Day,” Vaishnaw wrote on social media.
Governor RN Ravi visited the Rameswaram Swamy temple prior to the bridge’s formal inauguration, paying homage at one of the region’s most revered pilgrimage sites.
The original Pamban Bridge, built in 1914 by British engineers, was a cantilever structure with a Scherzer Rolling Lift span. It served as a vital link for over a century. However, with the passage of time, the bridge required a more advanced and robust replacement to handle modern maritime and railway demands.
The New Pamban Bridge, sanctioned in 2019, is built three metres higher than its predecessor and is designed to support higher speeds, heavier loads, and ensure safe passage for maritime vessels with its 72.5-meter vertical lift span.
According to the Ministry of Railways, the bridge is on par with globally renowned infrastructure like the Golden Gate Bridge (USA), Tower Bridge (UK), and the Oresund Bridge (Denmark-Sweden) in terms of innovation and engineering sophistication.
Serving as a lifeline for pilgrims, tourists, and trade, the New Pamban Bridge is set to transform regional connectivity, boost economic activity, and reinforce India’s stature in modern infrastructure development.
