MADURAI: The much awaited inauguration of new Pamban bridge in Mandapam-Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu is all set to take place tomorrow-April 6th 2025- and the Prime Minister Mr.Narendra Modi will dedicate this important railway bridge to the nation by flagging off a ship and a train service at Pamban at an official function at 12.45 pm tomorrow.
Mr.Pradeep Gaur, Chairman and Managing Director, RVNL, has shared important details about the new Pamban bridge in his special article released to the media and he describes it as “nation’s pride and a testament to engineering excellence.”
“This new railway sea bridge between Mandapam railway station and Rameswaram island is not just a replacement for the old Pamban bridge. It represents a huge leap in India’s engineering capabilities. As India’s first-ever vertical lift sea bridge, it stands as a symbol of resurgent India. It is an engineering marvel poised to redefine connectivity, the new Pamban bridge is replacing the historic old Pamban bridge that stood for more than 100 years. The new Pamban bridge manifests India’s commitment to modernizing its infrastructure while respecting its rich heritage,” the CMD of RVNL Mr.Pradeep Gaur wrote in his detailed article.
SALIENT FEATURES OF THE NEW PAMBAN BRIDGE:
Spanning 2.078 kms, the new Pamban bridge is one of India’s most iconic infrastructure projects. It has a state-of-the-art vertical lift mechanism making it the first vertical lift railway sea bridge in India, as the new bridge employs a vertical lift 72 meter central span that rises 22 meters above the water thereby allowing larger vessels to pass beneath with ease, marking a significant leap forward in bridge technology in India, says Mr.Pradeep Gaur.
“The new Pamban bridge is designed to accommodate trains travelling at speeds of up to 160 km per hour. However, due to signalling constraints and existing sharp curvature on the route will allow trains to run at speeds upto 98 km per hour. It ensures better connectivity between Rameswaram island and the mainland,” he adds. The new Pamban bridge has an electrified line traction.
WHY THE NEW PAMBAN BRIDGE?
The decision to build new Pamban bridge was made as the old bridge began to show signs of wear and tear after more than 100 years of service becoming increasingly difficult to maintain due to heavy corrosion.
“Given the unique challenges poised by the region’s geography-seismic activity, cyclonic storms and corrosive marine conditions- it became imperative to design a bridge that could withstand harsh elements while also serving the evolving needs of India’s rail network to meet the increasing volume of rail traffic (both passenger and freight) and a modern bridge capable of handling higher speeds, heavier loads and efficient maritime passage. Navratna PSU Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) under the Ministry of Railways was entrusted the project as a nodal agency. The new bridge had to be built in the adjacent location and hence it was designed as a vertical lift structure with top class electro-mechanical system. Durable corrosion resistant materials were used,” the RVNL chief has explained in his article.
The course of construction work involved more than 1,400 tons of fabrication, launching of lift spans and 99 girders, track and electrification work in the sea.
“RVNL worked closely with the Ministry of Railways, Southern Railway, Government of Tamil Nadu and a number of contractors, suppliers and consultants. It is a matter of absolute pride that the new Pamban bridge was constructed exclusively by the Indian contractors. The enhanced load capacity of the new bridge (designed for 25 tons axle load) will boost economic activity, promotes tourism, increased trade, enhanced connectivity for Rameswaram pilgrims and locals. It is a bridge among giants in the world. The new Pamban bridge is a promise of progress, connectivity and prosperity for generations to come. The original Pamban bridge which was completed in 1914 was India’s first sea bridge spanning 2.078 kms, it connected the mainland Mandapam town of Tamil Nadu to Rameswaram island crossing the Palk Strait. The new Pamban bridge sets a new benchmark in modern bridge engineering in India,” Mr.Pradeep Gaur, CMD of RVNL, wrote in the article which was forwarded to the media by railway authorities to give an overview of this iconic rail project being inaugurated by the Prime Minister on April 6th 2025.
