India’s first vertical lift railway bridge set to be inaugurated by PM Modi
Rameshwaram: India’s first vertical lift railway bridge, the Pamban Bridge, constructed at a cost of Rs 531 crore, is set to be inaugurated later this month by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Stretching 2.1 kilometre, the bridge connects Rameswaram Island to mainland India in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, replacing the 110-year-old British-era bridge that was decommissioned due to structural failure.
Built by the Southern Railway, the new bridge features a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that can rise up to 17 metres in just over five minutes to allow ship movement.
Officials said that construction, which began in February 2019, was completed in November 2024 despite delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new structure significantly improves efficiency, as the old bridge took 45 minutes to open, while the modern mechanism completes the process in just 5.3 minutes.
The bridge is designed to withstand cyclonic winds of up to 140 kmph, ensuring resilience along the storm-prone east coast. It supports train speeds of up to 75 kmph, compared to just 10 kmph on the previous structure, and can handle up to 12 trains per day.
Weighing 660 metric tonne, the vertical lift span is counter-balanced by two 310 MT weights mounted on either tower, with motors providing an additional 40 MT weight for smooth operation.
The construction used 3.38 lakh cement bags, 4,500 MT of structural steel, and 5,772 MT of stainless steel reinforcement.
Officials stated that the bridge is designed to last over a century, with anti-corrosion measures ensuring durability for at least 35 years before requiring maintenance. The sub-structure has also been equipped to accommodate a double railway line with future electrification if needed.
The Pamban Bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time for fishing vessels, eliminating the need for a 150-kilometre detour around Dhanushkodi.
