India's First Vertical Lift Railway Bridge Set For Historic Trial Run In Two Months Near Rameswaram

Anil Khandelwal, the Railway Board member for infrastructure, announced that the new Pamban rail bridge in Tamil Nadu is nearing completion. The trial runs are set to commence within the next two months.

This update came following Khandelwal's inspection of the bridge, where he stated that construction is 90 per cent complete, reported Times Of India.

The new bridge will be around 2.2 km long and will connect Mandapam town in mainland India to Pamban Island and Rameswaram. It will replace the existing century-old iconic structure built during British rule.

India's first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, a modern engineering marvel, promises to redefine connectivity and maritime navigation in the area. It is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) with Rs 535 crore.

The vertical-lift bridge will be 3 metres higher than the existing bridge, with a navigational air clearance of 22 metres above sea level. It will be operated using an electro-mechanical control system interlocked with train control systems.

The Pamban railway sea bridge consists of 99 horizontal spans, each measuring 18.3 metres in length, along with a single span of 72.5 metres.

This railway bridge holds great significance as it connects the mainland to Rameswaram, a historic south Indian town and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, along with Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, and Puri in the east.

This bridge exemplifies the dynamic synergy of tradition and innovation, a hallmark of India's growth story.