India’s First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge Inaugurated in Tamil Nadu
NEWS CHARIOT:-Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first-ever vertical lift railway sea bridge today in Pamban, Tamil Nadu. The state-of-the-art structure replaces the historic Pamban bridge, which was built in 1914 and closed in December 2022 due to structural concerns.
The new bridge, built at a cost of ₹535 crore in Ramanathapuram district, connects Rameswaram Island to the mainland. Constructed using cutting-edge vertical lift technology by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the bridge promises to significantly enhance connectivity and reduce travel time. Trains that earlier took 30 minutes to cross the old bridge can now pass the new one in just five minutes.
Spanning over 2 kilometers across the Bay of Bengal, the bridge includes a 72.5-meter-long, 660-ton vertical lift span that allows for the movement of ships underneath. The lifting mechanism, controlled remotely, uses motors and a counterweight system to reduce the power required to elevate the span.
The foundation for the project was laid by Prime Minister Modi in March 2019, with construction beginning in 2020. The project was completed within four years, involving hundreds of engineers and workers. Great care was taken to ensure precision, safety, and longevity throughout the construction process.
Designed to withstand harsh marine conditions, the bridge is coated with a triple-layer silver paint to prevent corrosion—giving it an estimated life of up to 100 years with regular maintenance. Additional safety measures include SCADA-based sensors that automatically halt rail traffic when wind speeds exceed 58 km/h. Tower-mounted instruments continuously monitor weather and wind conditions.
Each of the bridge’s 99 spans is 18.3 meters long and supported by deep-sea foundations that extend up to 35 meters below the seabed. The walking paths and structural supports use corrosion-resistant materials such as stainless steel and fiber-reinforced steel.
The inauguration of this bridge marks a major milestone in India’s infrastructure development and is expected to provide a significant boost to tourism and pilgrim travel to Rameswaram.
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