New Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu set for inauguration, to restore rail link to Rameswaram; check out key features and upgrades

The new 2.05 km Pamban Bridge will enable trains to cross the sea between mainland India and Rameswaram Island in Tamil Nadu in under five minutes, a significant reduction from the 25-30 minutes required on the old bridge, The Hindu quoted railway officials as saying.

Additional General Manager of Southern Railway Kaushal Kishore, along with Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava, inspected the bridge, Rameswaram railway station, and preparations for the inauguration on March 22, 2025.

Addressing the media, Kishore stated that while they had not received official confirmation from the Prime Minister’s Office, they had tentatively scheduled the inauguration for the second week of April, The Hindu reported.

When asked about the status of the old Pamban bridge, he said no decision had been made yet regarding its future.

“It is yet to be decided what should be done to the old bridge,” he said.

The bridge is ready to be dedicated to the nation and Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to inaugurate it within the next few weeks, though a date is yet to be decided, he added.

Key features and upgrades

Faster travel with higher speed limits

Trains on the old colonial-era Pamban Bridge between Mandapam and Rameswaram Islands were restricted to a speed of 10 kmph, taking 25-30 minutes to cross.

Since the closure of the old bridge in 2022, trains have been terminating at Mandapam, 17 km away from Rameswaram railway station. The new bridge will restore direct rail connectivity to the island.

On the newly constructed bridge, trains will travel at a maximum speed of 75 kmph, significantly reducing travel time, a railway official said during a media visit, according to a PTI report.

Trials on the new bridge have been completed, and safety certifications have been secured.

“The Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph for the bridge, except for the vertical lift portion. The new bridge is designed for 80 kmph. However, due to a curve, the CRS has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph, while the lift span has been permitted to operate at 50 kmph,” said N Shrinivasan, senior deputy general manager of Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the agency implementing the project, according to PTI.

Asia’s first vertical lift railway bridge

The new Pamban Bridge is Asia’s first vertical lift railway bridge.

The Railways will decide whether to dismantle the 111-year-old Pamban Bridge once the new structure becomes operational.

The old bridge had been the only rail link to Rameswaram and the tourist destination of Dhanushkodi from 1914 until 1988 when a parallel road bridge was commissioned.

Electro-mechanical lift system for maritime navigation

The new bridge will feature an electromechanical lifting system to allow ships to pass through.

The process of lifting the bridge takes just five minutes and can be operated by a single person.

However, the lifting mechanism cannot function if wind speeds reach 58 kmph or more, which frequently occurs between October and February.

Higher clearance and improved structure

The old bridge had a vertical clearance of just 1.5 metres between the high tide level and the bottom of the girder, often leading to seawater splashing onto the structure.

The new bridge is designed with 100 spans of 18.3 metres each, along with a 63-metre-long navigational span.

It will be three metres higher than the old bridge, providing a navigational air clearance of 22 metres above sea level.

Designed for future expansion and electrification

The new bridge’s substructure has been built to accommodate double railway tracks in the future.

The navigational span also includes provisions for double lines, and the entire bridge has been designed with railway electrification in mind.

Unlike the manually operated existing bridge, the new one will feature an electro-mechanical control system interlocked with train control systems.

Advanced construction technology

Railway officials highlighted that the bridge incorporates advanced construction technologies, including stainless steel reinforcement, composite sleepers, and a long-life painting system to enhance durability.

Project timeline and delays

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the new Pamban Bridge in November 2019, with construction commencing in February 2020 under RVNL. The project was initially slated for completion by December 2021, but the deadline was extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.