Udaipur, March 27, 2025 - Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, on April 6 to inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge and offer prayers at the Ramanathaswamy Temple. The 2.5-kilometre-long Pamban Bridge will connect mainland India with Rameswaram Island. It will allow trains to cross the sea in less than 5 minutes, compared to 25-30 minutes on the old bridge.

India's First Vertical Lift Railway Bridge

The new Pamban Bridge is India's first vertical lift railway bridge and replaces the old bridge, which was built in 1914 and closed in 2022 due to corrosion. The new bridge has been built at a cost of ₹535 crore by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).

Faster and Safer Travel

The new bridge is designed for faster trains with a speed limit of 75 kmph, except for the vertical lift portion, which has a speed limit of 50 kmph. It will be operated by an electromechanical system, allowing one person to lift the bridge in just 5 minutes for maritime movement. The bridge cannot be lifted if the wind speed reaches 58 kmph or more, which is common between October and February.

History of the Pamban Bridge

The old Pamban Bridge was the only railway link to Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi from 1914 to 1988, when a road bridge was built next to it. Before that, train services were the only way to travel between Mandapam and Rameswaram Island.

Safety trials on the new bridge are completed, and the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved its operation. The inauguration on April 6 marks a new era of connectivity for Rameswaram.

Source: Media Reports