In Pictures: New Pamban Bridge Set To Be Inaugurated Soon, Ashwini Vaishnaw Calls It 'Modern Engineering Marvel'

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared details and pictures of the new Pamban Bridge, connecting the Indian mainland to Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu.

Calling it a 'modern engineering marvel,' Vaishnaw said that it is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge and is a 'significant upgrade' over the old bridge decommissioned in December 2022 due to corrosion.

Vaishnaw also listed a comparison between the new bridge and the old bridge, which served for 105 years. While the old bridge had a manual Scherzer rolling lift span for ship passage, the new one is fully automated.

Earlier, two workers on each side were needed to lift using levers, while the new bridge has a vertical lift span. Also, the air clearance has increased from 19m to 22m above sea level.

The old bridge was single-track and catered to only low-speed trains, while the new bridge is designed for double tracks with electrification, high-speed train compatibility and modern design.

"Stretching over 2.05 km, the bridge is built at a cost of ₹535 crores by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL). It’s designed to handle faster trains and increased traffic," Vaishnaw said.

There are 100 spans in total, of which 99 are 18.3m long and one 73m navigational span is for marine traffic. The construction is already complete and it has been tested multiple times.

It awaits safety inspections by the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS), after which it will be inaugurated soon. "Trains will glide over this sea bridge, offering breathtaking views of the Gulf of Mannar," Vaishnaw said.

"The new Pamban Bridge, coupled with the upgraded Rameswaram Railway Station (under construction), will enhance tourism, trade, and connectivity for this historic island," he added.

The Rameswaram station is being redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Stations scheme with an estimated cost of Rs 90 Crore.