In a significant development, the Southern Railway recently conducted a successful trial run on the newly constructed Pamban railway sea bridge in Tamil Nadu.
The trial featured an OHE (overhead equipment) tower car crossing the bridge to Rameswaram station.
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The installation of the central lift span was completed in late July, with track connections at both ends of the Pamban bridge finalised last week. This trial run marked the first use of the new bridge since 2022.
The 72.5-metre-long vertical single lift span is designed to move up and down, allowing ships to pass under the bridge.
The bridge will be about 2.2 km long and will connect Mandapam town in mainland India to Pamban Island and Rameswaram. It will replace the existing century-old iconic structure built during British rule.
India’s first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, a modern engineering marvel, promises to redefine connectivity and maritime navigation in the area. It is being executed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL).
According to a Financial Express report, railway authorities are expediting the remaining work to ensure the bridge is operational before September. Plans are underway to resume train services to Rameswaram starting 1 October.
The new bridge, with a single railway line and provision for a second, will replace the old Pamban rail bridge built in 1914.
The construction, which began in 2019, was initially expected to be completed in two years, but COVID-19 and related lockdowns delayed progress.
In December 2022, Southern Railway had to abruptly stop train services on the old Pamban rail bridge due to safety concerns, resulting in trains bound for Rameswaram being short-terminated at Mandapam railway station.
This railway bridge holds great significance as it connects the mainland to Rameswaram, a historic south Indian town and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, along with Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, and Puri in the east.
This bridge exemplifies the dynamic synergy of tradition and innovation, a hallmark of India’s growth story.