PM Modi In Tamil Nadu / Train above, ship below... PM inaugurates Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu

PM Modi In Tamil Nadu: On the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a historic gift to the countrymen. PM Modi inaugurated India's first vertical lift sea bridge built over the sea at Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu. This bridge equipped with modern technology is not just a simple infrastructure project but has also become a symbol of India's growing engineering capability and self-reliance.

India's first vertical lift sea bridge: New avatar of Pamban Bridge

This vertical lift sea bridge extends from Mandapam in Tamil Nadu to the holy pilgrimage site Rameswaram. The project has cost around Rs 535 crore. This bridge is a modern and advanced version of the old Pamban Bridge, the foundation of which was laid by PM Modi in 2019. During the inauguration ceremony, PM Modi also announced other development projects worth Rs 8300 crore, which will further accelerate the connectivity of South India.

How does this bridge work?

The special thing about this vertical lift bridge is that a part of it can automatically rise up, so that sea ships can easily pass under it. The 63 meter center span of this bridge can be raised 17 meters (about 60 feet) above the sea and this process is completed in just 5 minutes.

It involves three main steps:

• Raising the center span vertically
• Tilting and lifting the old bridge
• Safely removing the ships from under the bridge
• This system is completely automatic, which does not require manual intervention. Double tracks and electrification make it suitable for high-speed trains.
• Unique Features: An engineering marvel
• India's first vertical lift sea bridge
• 72.5 meter lifting span, which opens in just 5 minutes and closes in 3 minutes
• 6,790 feet (about 2.08 km) long bridge above the sea
• Capability to rise up to 22 meters, allowing large sea vessels to pass
• Protected with anti-corrosion technology and polysiloxane paint
• Automatic signaling system, which immediately controls traffic by sounding a siren when ships approach

Weather role and safety measures

This bridge has been designed with utmost caution. If the wind speed exceeds 50 km/hr, the lifting system gets deactivated so that there is no compromise in safety.

A confluence of national unity and cultural pride

This inauguration on the day of Ram Navami was not just the launch of a project but also a symbol of giving a more modern identity to a holy place like Rameswaram. PM Modi also gave the message of balance between spiritual and scientific heritage by offering prayers at Ramanathaswamy temple.

Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu: PM Narendra Modi inaugurates New Pamban Bridge - India’s first vertical lift sea bridge and flags off Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) new train service, on the occasion of #RamNavami2025 pic.twitter.com/6ts8HNdwqy

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2025