Rameswaram, 6 April

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Pamban sea bridge, providing rail link between Rameswaram island and the mainland and flagged off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service.

The PM also flagged off a Coast Guard ship which passed under the bridge.

Chief Minister MK Stalin skipped the big ticket event and upped the ante on the delimitation issue and said he had already conveyed to the prime minister his inability to take part in the bridge inaugural since he had prior official commitment.

The CM was in the hill town Udhagamandalam to attend official engagements on Sunday.

PM Modi should allay the fears of people of Tamil Nadu surrounding the proposed delimitation exercise, Stalin said.

The bridge is all set to improve connectivity to this spiritual destination flocked by devotees throughout the year from across the country. Built at a cost of over Rs 550 crore, this is India’s first vertical sea-lift bridge.

Spanning 2.08 kilometers, the bridge comprises 99 spans and a 72.5-meter-long vertical lift span that can be raised up to 17 meters, allowing the smooth passage of large ships while ensuring seamless train operations.

Its foundation is supported by 333 piles and 101 piers/pile caps, designed for dual rail tracks and future expansion. The use of polysiloxane paint protects it from corrosion, ensuring longevity in the harsh marine environment. This bridge is a remarkable blend of tradition and technology.

According to officials, the new railway sea bridge between Mandapam railway station (mainland) and the Rameshwaram island is not just a replacement for the old Pamban Bridge; it represents a colossal leap in India’s engineering capabilities.

The most notable feature of the new Pamban bridge is its state-of-the-art vertical lift mechanism, "an engineering marvel," making it the first vertical lift railway sea bridge in India.

The new bridge employs a vertical lift 72-meter central span that rises 22 meter above the water, allowing larger vessels to pass beneath with ease. Under rail traffic, the bridge remains simply supported at two ends thus ensuring absolute stability.