India’s first Vertical lift Railway Sea Bridge connecting the mainland of India with Rameswaram Island is expected to be completed soon. The new railway bridge at Pamban, has been underway since 2020. As per reports, while the major part of the bridge has been completed, only final touches are under construction. Therefore, completion of the bridge is expected soon, with train services anticipated to begin shortly thereafter.
#WATCH | Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu | New Pamban Vertical Lift Railway Bridge to be ready soon.
Construction of the new railway bridge at Pamban, the gateway to Rameswaram island, has been underway since 2020 and the major part of the bridge has been completed. (18/12) pic.twitter.com/qGVgKh0XkA---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) December 19, 2024
The Ministry of Railways had announced on 2020 that the 2.07 km long Vertical span New Pamban Bridge will soon become a reality!
How Will It Benefit Commuters?
Gateway to Rameswaram Island: The new bridge will be a boon for Pilgrims and devotees who wish to embark on a spiritual tour to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi.
The vertical lift bridge, India’s first of its kind, draws inspiration from the moving rail bridges in Germany and Spain.
The new Pamban railway bridge will connect Rameswaram island to the mainland in Tamil Nadu. The Ministry, in 2022 had informed that till Date, 84% of the construction work has been completed.
Until now, sub structure work has been completed fully which includes 333 Piles and 101 Pile caps. Fabrication of all 99 approach spans completed, out of which 76 girders have been launched. Fabrication of Vertical Lift Span girder is nearing completion. Assembling Platform for Vertical Lift Span on Rameswaram end of bridge is getting ready. Track laying work is in progress.
The 2.07 km long Vertical span New Pamban Bridge will soon become a reality!
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) October 5, 2020
The new bridge will be a boon for Pilgrims and devotees who wish to embark on a spiritual tour to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi pic.twitter.com/gdYgeuA1R5
It added, “This state-of-the-art bridge will be the country’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge and is expected to be completed by March 2023.”
The sea bridge is being constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs 535 crores.
The bridge will allow the Indian Railways to operate trains at a higher speed. It will also increase traffic between the mainland of India and Rameswaram island.
Notably, the existing Pamban Rail Bridge, which connects Rameswaram to mainland India, is 105 years old. The original bridge was built in 1914 to connect Mandapam to the Rameswaram island situated in the Gulf of Mannar. It was the only link connecting the two locations until a new road bridge was built parallel to the sea link in 1988.
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