India’s First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge – Pampan Rehabilitation Work 84% Complete

Rameswaram: The rehabilitation work of the 2.05 km long new Pampan Rail Bridge connecting Rameswaram Island to the mainland of Tamil Nadu is in full swing. Till date 84% construction work has been completed.

Sub-structural works including installation of 333 feet piers and filling of 101 gaps between piers have been fully completed. All 99 access bridge eyes (hole span) work has been completed. Out of which, the construction of 76 girders has been started.

Construction of the vertical lift span girder is nearing completion. The assembled platform for the vertical lift span is being prepared at the Rameswaram end of the bridge. Road construction is in progress. This state-of-the-art bridge will be the country’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge. It is expected to be completed by March 2023.

The sea bridge is being constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) at a cost of Rs.535 crore. The bridge will allow trains to run at higher speeds. This will increase traffic between mainland India and Rameswaram Island.

The Pampan railway bridge that connects Rameswaram to mainland India is 105 years old. The original bridge was built in 1914 to connect Mandapam to Rameswaram Island in the Gulf of Mannar. It was the only link connecting the two places until a new road bridge was built in 1988 parallel to the sea rail bridge.