Pamban Bridge restoration to usher in new transport era in India

The Pamban Bridge, an iconic structure connecting the Rameswaram island to the mainland in Tamil Nadu, is undergoing a comprehensive restoration after being closed in 2022 due to structural concerns.

Initially constructed during British colonial rule, this bridge has the distinction of being India’s first vertical lift railways sea bridge. The Indian Railways is leading efforts to refurbish it with cutting-edge technology, including the incorporation of a vertical lift mechanism. The updated bridge will span 2.10 kilometres.

Construction work on the bridge was completed in November 2024. Safety inspections by the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) in Chennai and Bombay have been conducted, ensuring its readiness for operation. 

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The bridge work was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Commissioner of Railway Safety conducted an inspection in November 2024 and certified it with certain recommendations.

The Ministry of Railways plans to inaugurate the newly restored Pamban Bridge shortly, marking a significant milestone in Indian transport infrastructure.

Railway sources mentioned that the inauguration of the new Pamban Rail Bridge might occur in the second week of February, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would flag off the train on the new bridge.

The 2.08-km-long bridge is expected to allow the Indian Railways to operate trains at a higher speed.

The train services between Mandapam on the mainland and Rameswaram island were suspended on December 23, 2022, after the existing rail bridge was declared non-operational from a safety point of view. Severe corrosion had made it weak and unfit for operations.