Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated the new Pamban rail bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge on Sunday. Built at a cost Rs 700 crore, the bridge provides essential rail connectivity between Rameswaram island and the mainland.
Modi, who arrived from Sri Lanka on Sunday, was received by Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu, Union Minister of State L. Murugan, Bharatiya Janata Party Tamil Nadu unit chief K. Annamalai and senior BJP leaders.
Historic Moment!🚆🇮🇳
— Southern Railway (@GMSRailway) April 6, 2025
Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi flags off the first train on the iconic #NewPambanBridge marking a new era in India's railway infrastructure!@PMOIndia @narendramodi @AshwiniVaishnaw @RailMinIndia #IndianRailways #SouthernRailway pic.twitter.com/621rNFNpEq
A landmark development project, Modi flagged off new Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service and a Coast Guard ship, which passed under the bridge. The bridge will improve connectivity to spiritual destination flocked by devotees throughout the year from across the country.
On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force for… pic.twitter.com/W9lK1UgpmA
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 6, 2025
According to the railway ministry, the bridge was built at a cost of over Rs 700 crore. The bridge is 2.08-kilometre in length, features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train operations, the railway ministry said in a statement.
The bridge is built using stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints. The bridge is designed for dual rail tracks to accommodate future demands and it has been provided with polysiloxane coating to protect it from corrosion.
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Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Tamil Nadu Governor Ravi and state ministers were present during the inauguration. En route to the inauguration from Sri Lanka, Modi tweeted, “On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both.”
Prime minister offered prayers at Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameshwaram. He will inaugurate and lay foundation stone for projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu later on Sunday.
