Chennai, April 6: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge – the New Pamban Railway Bridge at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district.
During the event, PM Modi used a remote control device to operate the bridge’s special vertical lift span, allowing a Coast Guard ship to pass underneath. This made the bridge the first vertical lift railway sea bridge in India.
Built at a cost of ₹550 crore, the new bridge is 2.08 kilometers long and has 99 spans, including a 72.5-meter lift section that can rise up to 17 meters.
This helps large ships sail through without affecting train movement. The heavy lift span, which weighs 660 metric tons, was fully developed with Indian technology.
It also has space for two railway tracks, which will help handle future rail traffic.
PM Modi also flagged off a new train service between Rameswaram and Tambaram (Chennai). This new train will make travel easier for both locals and the many pilgrims who visit Rameswaram every year.
Though Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin could not attend the event due to other engagements in the Nilgiris, many other leaders and officials were present. These included Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, state minister Thangam Thennarasu, and BJP leaders K. Annamalai, H. Raja, Sudhakar Reddy, and Nainar Nagenthiran, along with Ramanathapuram District Collector Simranjeet Singh Kahlon.
On social media platform X, PM Modi also shared a spiritual message from his trip. He posted: “On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force for all of us. May His blessings always remain upon us.”
For weeks, officials had been preparing for the Prime Minister’s visit with detailed checks at key locations like the Ramanathaswamy Temple, Mandapam helipad, Kunthukal, Mandapam railway station, and the Pamban road bridge. A high-level security review was also carried out by police, railway, and intelligence officials to ensure everything went smoothly.
In a statement, Indian Railways said: “Bridging the past, lifting the new, Pamban stands tall with a breathtaking view. This Ram Navami, witness the unveiling of India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge.”
The new Pamban Bridge not only links Rameswaram to the Indian mainland but also stands as a symbol of India’s engineering talent and innovation. It’s expected to make travel easier for thousands of people and boost tourism in this holy town.
