PM to fly down in military chopper from Sri Lanka to Rameswaram

Prime Minister Modi to inaugurate Pamban rail bridge in Tamil Nadu, tight security measures in place for visit.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be flying to Mandapam by a chopper directly from Sri Lanka on Sunday to inaugurate the new Pamban rail bridge.

Mr. Modi who is currently on a state-visit to the island nation would be flying by military helicopter from Sri Lanka to land at a helipad opposite Mandapam Railway station at around noon. Three more military helicopters would accompany the VIP’s chopper.

The Prime Minister’s convoy would straight away go to the Pamban Road Bridge from where Mr. Modi would flag off the new Rameswaram-Tambaram-Rameswaram train services. Later, he would remotely operate the vertical lift span of the new Pamban rail bridge under which the Coast Guard ship would pass through.

Later, the Prime Minister would offer prayers at Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple for a brief while before arriving at Alayam grounds where he will address a public gathering to mark the inauguration of the new rail bridge. He will also lay the foundation stone for four-laning of Walajahpet / Ranipet - Tamil Nadu / Andhra Pradesh border section of NH-40 and inaugurate three stretches of four-laned highways.

Meanwhile, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the new Pamban Rail Bridge was one of the most significant bridges in the history of the Indian Railways. “It will be the first vertical lift bridge built in seawater, and it is one of the greatest architectural marvels of Tamil history, Tamil culture, and the ancient Tamil civilization and Tamil language...” he said.

India’s first vertical lift sea bridge has set a new benchmark in modern infrastructure and maritime harmony, he said.

Tamil Nadu State police have brought Rameswaram island under a thick security blanket with two officers in the rank of Additional Director Generals of Police overseeing the security arrangement.