New Pamban Rail bridge is India’s first vertical lift bridge

PM Modi to inaugurate India's first vertical bridge, the new Pamban Bridge, on April 6, featuring innovative engineering marvels.

India’s first vertical bridge, the Pamban Rail Bridge, will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 6.

“On 6th April on the occasion of Ram Navami, PM Modi will pray at the Ramanathswamy temple in Rameswaram and also inaugurate the new Pamban Bridge,” sources told The Hindu.

The new Pamban Bridge’s Vertical Lift Girder Span is considered to be an engineering marvel, ensuring safe and efficient rail and marine traffic.

The 2.2-km-long bridge, parallel to the existing bridge, which is more than a century old, was constructed by public sector enterprise Rail Vikas Nigam Limited at an estimated cost of ₹531 crore.

The contract for constructing bridge was awarded in August 2019 and the work started in October. Originally planned to be completed in two years, the construction got delayed due to COVID lockdown.

The 72.5-metre-long lifting span would be lifted for 17 metres above the bridge using four motors for ships or boats pass through. Two motors have been fitted on each of the two towers.

The motors would lift the centre span weighing 630 tonnes. Two counter weights of 313 tonnes each have been installed on the two towers to enable easier lifting of the span.