Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the new Pamban sea bridge that connects Rameswaram island and the mainland. “A special day for India’s efforts to build top-quality infrastructure! The new Pamban bridge was inaugurated and Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service was flagged off,” the Prime Minister wrote on social media  X immediately after the inauguration of the bridge.

The 2.08-km bridge — having many safety features incorporated into its structure made of stainless steel and 99 girders — is India’s first ever vertical lift sea bridge which will facilitate a smooth sailing of trains to Rameswaram Ramanatha Swamy Temple from the mainland. It provides higher clearance of 17 metres to allow larger boats and barges to move below, which will ensure unhindered sea route connectivity.

The new bridge will help trains travel at a speed of 75 km per hour, instead of 10 km on the old bridge. The new bridge has been completed at a cost of `550 crore in five years. The Prime Minister also flagged off the Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service.

The bridge features stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade paint and fully welded joints, enhancing durability while reducing maintenance requirements.

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.

The Railways has announced that select mail, express and passenger trains will now originate and terminate at Rameswaram since the new bridge has been commissioned. India’s Metro Man E Sreedharan said he could not make it to Rameswaram for the inauguration due to health issues, while going nostalgic about the old Pamban bridge that he helped resurrect in record time in 1964. Sreedharan was hardly 30 at that time and employed as an executive engineer in Southern Railway when giant tidal waves on the Rameswaram Coast washed away the Pamban bridge that was originally built way commissioned in February 1914.

“The bridge which boasted of a unique Scherezer rolling lift bridge was washed away by tidal waves on December 23, 1964 along with the Pamban-Dhanushkodi passenger train. More than 500 passengers lost their lives. The waves also washed off 123 of the 145 giant girder spans,” Sreedharan recalled.

Initially, the then Union Government decided not to rebuild the bridge, but changed mind following public pressure and Sreedharan was deputed to rebuild and restore the Pamban bridge. “I was given six months to complete the job. But we got the bridge restored and reopened for traffic in 46 days,” said E Sreedharan, a civil engineer with vast knowledge in mechanical as well as material engineering.

“I never knew that rebuilding would be historic. We used innovation, new ideas and new methods in rebuilding the bridge.  The credit goes to the workers of Indian Railways as well as the fishermen of Rameswaram who helped us locate the girders washed away by the cyclone.

We recovered nearly 80 girders from the sea bottom. The bridge you see today is supported by the same girders,” he said.

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

“While the new Pamban Bridge is India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, it shares similarities with other globally recognised bridges known for their technological advancements and unique designs. These include the Golden Gate Bridge in the United States, Tower Bridge in London and the Oresund Bridge in Denmark-Sweden. Each of these iconic structures, though different in design and functionality, represents a pinnacle of engineering excellence. The new Pamban Bridge stands proudly in their company, combining cutting-edge technology with the challenges posed by India’s coastal and seismic conditions,” according to the Southern Railway.

The construction of the new Pamban Bridge presented numerous challenges, ranging from environmental obstacles to logistical complexities.

The Palk Strait’s turbulent waters, strong winds, and unpredictable weather created difficulties in the construction process. Additionally, the region’s susceptibility to cyclones and seismic activity necessitated careful planning and robust design.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, TN Governor RN Ravi, State Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu were among those present at the inauguration. Conspicuous by his absence was Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Meanwhile, Stalin said he wanted Prime Minister Modi to get passed a resolution in Parliament to ensure that the rights of Tamil Nadu are not curbed.

Speaking at a function at Nilgiris in the Western Ghats, Stalin said he could not attend the bridge inauguration due to prior engagements.

“We have sought an appointment to present the memorandum on the delimitation. Since I am taking part in this government function, I have conveyed to the PM about my inability to take part in his meeting and deputed our Ministers Thangam Thennarasu and Raja Kannappan. Through this meeting and through you, I hereby ask the Prime Minister to allay the fears of delimitation,” Stalin said while addressing the gathering.

But the Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah have already allayed the fears of South Indian states that they will lose seats in Parliament because of delimitation. While PM Modi announced the same in the Lok Sabha, Shah had brought up the issue in public meetings in Tamil Nadu that no States in south India will lose even a single seat as a result of delimitation.