India's First Vertical-Lift Sea Bridge Inaugurated

Over a century after the original Pamban Bridge was built across the Palk Strait in Rameswaram, India launched a state-of-the-art replacement. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Bridge - the country's first vertical-lift sea bridge - in Tamil Nadu on Sunday. Located in the Ramanathapuram district, the bridge connects Rameswaram Island with Mandapam on the mainland.

Rooted in mythology, the bridge holds deep spiritual significance, as the Ramayana recounts the construction of Ram Setu beginning from Dhanushkodi, near Rameswaram.

The New Pamban Bridge is 2.07 kilometers long. It features a 72.5-metre navigational span that can be vertically lifted to 17 meters, allowing ships to pass below safely. Though the bridge is cleared for train speeds up to 80 kmph and is built to handle increased rail traffic and heavier loads, the speed of the trains can vary during the day, depending upon the wind speed. 

With a projected lifespan of 100 years, the bridge has been constructed with special engineering techniques that reduce the need for frequent maintenance. It uses stainless steel reinforcement, fully welded joints, high-grade protective paint, and a polysiloxane coating to protect against corrosion in the harsh marine environment. The new bridge is built 3 meters higher than the old one, offering better sea clearance for maritime traffic.

The bridge is being compared to famous ones like the Golden Gate Bridge in the USA, the Tower Bridge in the UK, and the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden because of its modern design and technology.

Two railway stations in Tamil Nadu – Mandapam and Pamban – are close to five kilometers apart and have been connected by trains since 1914 when the Pamban Bridge was built by the British. Of the five km distance between the two stations, two kilometers is the length of the Bay of Bengal between the mainland of India and Pamban island. 

A 72.5-meter portion of the new bridge will be lifted vertically whenever a ship has to pass through. This part of the bridge can be lifted up to 17 meters. Learning a lesson from the old bridge, anti-corrosive materials have been used in the new one.