Pamban bridge: India’s first vertical lift Indian Railways bridge nears completion; check photos & top 10 facts

The new Pamban bridge is India’s first vertical lift railway bridge over sea and it makes for a stunning sight. Connecting Rameswaram on the Pamban island to Mandapam on the mainland, it is likely to be inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in a few months time. It is being built parallel to the old Pamban bridge by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited at an approximate cost of Rs 535 crore. We take a look at some top facts that make the new Pamban bridge special:

The new Pamban bridge is 90% complete as of now and its foundation stone was laid by PM Narendra Modi in 2019. It has been designed for double railway line and future electrification as well, given that Indian Railways is moving towards full electrification of its broad gauge network.

The new Pamban bridge will be just over 2 kilometres long. It will have 99 spans with 18.3 metres long girders. The navigational span will be of 63 metres.

The most unique feature about the new Pamban bridge is its vertical lift facility, which will help boats pass under the bridge smoothly. The vertical lift span will have electromechanical control interlocked with train control system. (Concept image of New Pamban bridge)

To allow for shipping traffic to pass under the vertical lift section of the bridge, rail traffic would be stopped. The navigational span would move up vertically to create enough height for boats to pass. (Concept image)

The vertical lift, a first of its kind in the country, will allow full horizontal length of 72.5 metre for navigation. The new Pamban bridge is 3 metres higher than old bridge with navigational air-clearance of 22 metres above mean sea level. (Concept image)

In the earlier Pamban bridge, this was managed manually through what was called the Scherzer’s Span. The Scherzer’s Span (named after the bridge’s engineer) has a 61 metre steel truss which opens for a maximum of 81 degrees in the vertical plane to let boats through. (Image of old Pamban bridge Scherzer’s Span)

Worn by time and corrosion, the rail bridge, among India’s oldest, will make way for a taller, longer, sturdier vertical sealift bridge. The old Pamban bridge was designed for narrow gauge and upgraded to broad gauge in 2007.

The earlier Pamban bridge is non-operational as of now. Rail traffic was suspended from December 2022 after sensors started sending red alerts. Southern Railway suspended traffic permanently after IIT-Madras and the Research Design and Standards Organisation of Indian Railways expressed apprehensions about stability. (File photo of old Pamban bridge)

The old Pamban bridge, which was opened in 1914, was India’s first sea bridge. With the opening of the new Pamban bridge in a few months time, Indian Railways’ Bridge No 346 will be retired, and may even be dismantled.