PM inaugurates New Pamban Rail Bridge, India's first vertical-lift sea bridge, and projects worth over ₹8,300 crore in Rameswaram
On 6 April 2025 (Ram Navami), Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge, India's first vertical-lift railway sea bridge, flagged off the Rameswaram–Tambaram (Chennai) train service and launched rail and road projects worth over ₹8,300 crore in Tamil Nadu.
Summary
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the New Pamban Rail Bridge at Rameswaram on 6 April 2025, flagged off the new Rameswaram–Tambaram (Chennai) train and a ship from the road bridge, and watched the bridge's operation. He also offered prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple. According to PIB, the bridge, India's first vertical-lift sea bridge, is 2.08 km long, has 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to 17 metres to let ships pass; it is designed for dual rail tracks and has a polysiloxane coating against corrosion. PIB put its cost at over ₹700 crore. The Prime Minister laid foundation stones and dedicated rail and road projects worth over ₹8,300 crore, including the foundation for four-laning of the 28 km Walajapet–Ranipet section of NH-40, and dedication of the 29 km Viluppuram–Puducherry section of NH-332, the 57 km Poondiyankuppam–Sattanathapuram section of NH-32 and the 48 km Cholapuram–Thanjavur section of NH-36.
Key facts
- Bridge
- New Pamban Rail Bridge, India's first vertical-lift sea bridge
- Specs (PIB)
- 2.08 km; 99 spans; 72.5 m lift span rising to 17 m
- Design
- Dual rail tracks; polysiloxane anti-corrosion coating
- New train
- Rameswaram – Tambaram (Chennai)
- Projects
- Over ₹8,300 crore, rail and road, Tamil Nadu
- Highways
- NH-40 Walajapet–Ranipet (foundation); NH-332 Viluppuram–Puducherry, NH-32 Poondiyankuppam–Sattanathapuram, NH-36 Cholapuram–Thanjavur (dedicated)
Practice MCQs 4 questions
Which bridge, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 6 April 2025, is India's first vertical-lift railway sea bridge?
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Correct answer: B — New Pamban Rail Bridge
New Pamban Rail Bridge at Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
Up to what height does the 72.5-metre vertical lift span of the New Pamban Rail Bridge rise to allow ships to pass?
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Correct answer: D — 17 metres
17 metres, according to PIB; the bridge has 99 spans.
Consider the following statements about the New Pamban Rail Bridge: 1. It is designed for dual rail tracks to meet future demand. 2. A polysiloxane coating protects it from corrosion in the marine environment. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
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Correct answer: C — Both 1 and 2
Both are correct, as stated by PIB in its release on the inauguration.
Which new train service did the Prime Minister flag off at the inauguration of the New Pamban Rail Bridge on 6 April 2025?
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Correct answer: A — Rameswaram – Tambaram (Chennai)
Rameswaram – Tambaram (Chennai); he also flagged off a ship from the road bridge.