The first sea bridge in India with vertical lift, Pamban Bridge, will soon be ready

The construction of India's first-ever vertical lift bridge over the sea is almost complete. This groundbreaking vertical lift bridge will connect the mainland to Rameswaram Island.

Jaya Varma Sinha, Chairman of the Railway Board, recently announced that the Pamban Railway Bridge will be ready soon and is likely to be ready for use as well. He confirmed that the reconstruction is progressing smoothly, according to timesofindia.indiatimes.com.

Although there were many challenges during the reconstruction, the strong team showed extraordinary dedication. Referring to this, the Chairman and CEO of the railroad added that the construction of the country's first vertical lift bridge over a rough sea poses significant challenges.

The new Pamban Bridge is a true marvel of engineering. Built in parallel to the old Pamban Bridge by Vikas Nigam Limited at an estimated cost of Rs 535 crore, it will serve as a vital link between Rameswaram on Pamban Island and Mandapam on the Indian mainland.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Pamban Bridge in November 2019. Construction began in February 2020, and the original completion date of December 2021 was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here are some stunning facts about this architectural marvel:

Vertical lift capability

A distinctive feature of the new Pamban Bridge is its vertical lift capability, which will facilitate the safe and trouble-free passage of boats under the bridge. The vertical lift span combines electromechanical control with a train control system.

Ready for electrification

Designed for future electrification, the bridge was built in line with Indian Railways' broader goal of moving towards full electrification of the entire broad gauge network.

Ensuring a double line

The substructure of the new Pamban Bridge has been designed to accommodate double tracks, while the navigation area also features double tracks.

Advanced innovations

The vertical lift mechanism, which is an innovative breakthrough in the country, provides a full horizontal clearance of 72.5 meters to facilitate navigation.

Unobstructed navigation

To facilitate navigation, rail traffic will be temporarily suspended as the navigation span is raised vertically to create sufficient space for boats.

Structural details

The new Pamban Bridge consists of 100 spans of 18.3 meters each and one 63-meter navigable span. It is 3.0 meters higher than the existing bridge, providing navigational airspace at an altitude of 22.0 meters above sea level.

Advanced technologies

The bridge is built using advanced technologies, including stainless steel reinforcement, a durable paint system, and composite sleepers.

Improved communication

According to the Southern Railway, the 2.05 km long Pamban Bridge will facilitate faster train travel and improve connectivity between mainland India and Rameswaram Island.

Why was it reconstructed?

According to the documents, the old Pamban Bridge, built in 1913, had limited vertical clearance, which necessitated its reconstruction. The reports add that the rail link between Mandapam and Rameswaram Island was closed in December 2022 for safety reasons, further emphasizing the need for a new bridge. Previously, trains used to travel across the old bridge at a leisurely pace, reaching Rameswaram in about 15 minutes. Now, all trains end at Mandapam station, after which people need to travel by road to reach Rameswaram.

Earlier, TravelWise reported that modern air taxis may start operating in India .