GUWAHATI: The Pamban railway bridge in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, Asia’s first vertical-lift bridge, is set to be inaugurated in February by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Designed by Spain-based firm Typsa in collaboration with the Indian Railways, the bridge has been hailed as an engineering achievement.
ALSO READ: Meghalaya To Host 39th National Games In 2027
A vertical-lift bridge features a moveable span that rises vertically while remaining parallel to the deck. This new 2.10 km-long bridge, built at a cost of ₹531 crore, features an electro-mechanical lift system interlocked with train control operations. The sub-structure has also been designed to accommodate future electrification and double tracks.
Located 658 km from Chennai, this bridge connects mainland Mandapam with Rameswaram island. Notably, India is also the only country after Germany to have such a bridge.
Senior Deputy General Manager of Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd (RVNL), Srinivasan, reportedly informed that the bridge’s vertical lift span measures 72.5 metres in length, with a maximum lift of 17 metres. The towers stand at a height of 34 metres.
Speaking about the project, Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) Chief Public Relations Officer Kapinjal Kishore Sharma meanwhile reportedly described the bridge as a "technological marvel" and a testament to Indian Railways' engineering expertise. While not directly linking the Northeast, the bridge will facilitate train travel from the region to Rameswaram.