Chennai: The first-of-its-kind Pamban rail bridge on the Mandapam-Rameswaram section in Tamil Nadu is set to be commissioned next month after the November 13-14 inspection by Commissioner of Railway Safety for Southern Circle A M Chowdhary, providing a major connectivity boost to the island town.
The vertical lift bridge is inspired by movable rail bridges in Germany and Spain.
Experts from Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, the railway’s construction division, visited Valencia and Barcelona in Spain and Hamburg Port in Germany to study similar structures. In Valencia, the rail bridge swings horizontally to allow ferry passage, Barcelona’s double bascule bridge opens vertically, and Hamburg port features a vertical lift bridge similar to the new one at Pamban.
New Pamban Bridge: getting closer to commissioning!
A successful OMS-engine run showcased the precision and strength of the Bridge, reaching speeds of 121 kmph on the Mandapam-Rameswaram section in Tamil Nadu and 80 kmph on the bridge itself. pic.twitter.com/lDHpi8Rpmc
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) November 8, 2024
On Friday, the Ministry of Railways said a successful OMS-engine run reflected the precision and strength of the bridge, reaching speeds of 121 kmph on the Mandapam-Rameswaram section in Tamil Nadu and 80 kmph on the bridge itself.
Architectural marvel at sea
Spanish companies contributed to the design of the vertical lift bridge at Pamban, a location that RVNL officials describe as one of the most “corrosive atmospheres” worldwide.
The old bridge, a double-bascule vertical lift structure with a Scherzer span, was commissioned on 24 February 1914 and represented some of the most advanced technology of its era. An article in The Engineer, published on 7 August 1914, explained how the bridge reduced the sea distance between India and Sri Lanka from 150 miles to just 22 miles. The bridge featured the Scherzer rolling lift span, invented by American engineer William Donald Scherzer.
In an era of global rail expansion, Scherzer’s invention allowed railways to span rivers without interrupting ferry traffic. When fully raised, the bridge’s 225-foot span created a 200-foot clearance, allowing ferries to pass through the Pamban channel.
New bridge will give connectivity boost
Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation for the new bridge in November 2019, but rail traffic on the old bridge was permanently halted in December 2022 after sensors triggered a red alert, leaving Rameswaram disconnected from the railway network.
The new vertical lift bridge will support train speeds of up to 80 km/h, a significant improvement from the 10 km/h limit on the old bridge. With a 17-metre clearance, it will also allow larger vessels to pass through, according to railway officials.
