New Pamban Bridge: What We Know About India’s First Vertical Lift Sea Bridge
Producer: Priyanka Das Editor: Manuj Yadav | April 04, 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate India’s first vertical lift sea bridge connecting Tamil Nadu’s Rameswaram Island to the mainland on the occasion of Ram Navami on April 6.
The state-of-the-art 2.1-km bridge is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, with a vertical lift span of 72 m. It is a significant improvement over the cantilever system of the 104-year Old Pamban Bridge.
The New Pamban Bridge will have 101 piers and will be 3 m taller than the Old Pamban Bridge.
The main feature of the New Pamban Bridge is its vertical lift span of 72 metres, which allows ships to pass below. The entire process can be completed in only 10 minutes with the use of machines.
It operates on an electro-mechanical system and has been constructed to accommodate a double track. At present, the authorised speed for trains is 75 kmph, which can be changed based on operational feedback, as and when it starts.
The original Pamban Railway Bridge, a British-built structure connecting Rameswaram Island with the Tamil Nadu mainland, had weakened over time, leading to the suspension of train services in 2022.
The Railway Ministry has decided to demolish the old bridge, deeming its maintenance unjustifiable. The demolition process is expected to begin in June.
