PM Modi Inaugurates India's First Vertical Sea-Lift Bridge, New Pamban Bridge At Rameswaram (Video)

Chennai: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the highly anticipated new Pamban rail bridge, marking a significant milestone in India’s rail infrastructure development. The bridge, constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited at a cost of Rs. 531 crore, connects Ramanathapuram with Rameswaram, a vital route for both local communities and tourists.

During the inauguration, Modi lauded the new bridge as an “engineering wonder,” emphasising its dual functionality. Not only will it facilitate the passage of large ships under the bridge, but it will also ensure faster train travel, thereby enhancing transportation efficiency. Modi described the bridge as a symbol of the harmonious blend of “technology and tradition,” adding that its completion fulfills a decades-old demand and will have a positive impact on the lives of thousands of people.

The new Pamban bridge replaces the century-old British-era bridge and is set to improve rail connectivity between Rameswaram and Chennai, benefiting trade and tourism in Tamil Nadu. With improved infrastructure, the bridge is expected to create new job opportunities for the youth in the region, stimulating economic growth.

“We have increased our investment in railways, roads, ports, and electricity by six times,” the Prime Minister said said. Referring to other major infrastructure developments, Modi mentioned the construction of the Chenab Rail Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir, Atal Sethu in Mumbai, and the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam, all contributing to regional connectivity.

Touching upon his Government’s commitment to further infrastructure improvements, such as the dedicated freight corridor and the bullet train project. Modern train services like Vande Bharat, Amrit Bharat, and Namo Bharat, he noted, were making the nation’s rail network more advanced.

In a bid to further improve transportation in Tamil Nadu, Modi flagged off new train services between Rameswaram and Tambaram. He also laid the foundation stone for the four-laning of the Walajahpet / Ranipet - Tamil Nadu / Andhra Pradesh border section of NH-40 and dedicated three highway projects in the state.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi visited the Sri Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, offering prayers on the auspicious occasion of Rama Navami.

Addressing a public meeting later, Modi remarked on the generous fund allocation to Tamil Nadu by the Centre, countering criticisms from local political leaders. He pointed out that before 2014, Tamil Nadu received an annual railway allocation of just Rs. 900 crore, whereas this year’s allocation had risen to over Rs. 6,000 crore.

Highlighting the government’s commitment to fishermen, Modi shared that the Centre had been supporting infrastructure for the fishing community, including seaweed parks and fishing harbors. He also reassured that the government had worked to bring back over 3,100 Indian fishermen who were arrested by the Sri Lankan Navy in the past decade.

Modi concluded his address by urging the state government to consider introducing medical courses in Tamil, to support students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.