New Pamban Bridge
{{short description|Railway bridge under construction connecting Pamban Island to mainland India}}
{{for|the old Pamban bridge|Pamban Bridge}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox bridge
| native_name =
| image = The New Pamban Bridge.jpg
| image_size =
| caption = The vertical lift section of the new Pamban bridge with the bascule section of the old bridge in the foreground
| carries = Rail
| crosses =
| owner = Indian Railways
| length = {{convert|2070|m|ft}}
| number_spans = 100
| piers_in_water =
| num_track = 2 (Completed:1)
| track_gauge =
| electrification = Planned
| begin = February 2020
| complete = September 2024
| open = 6 April 2025
| cost = {{INRconvert|5|b}}
| rebuilt =
| closed =
| replaced_by =
| traffic =
| locale = Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, India
| coordinates = {{Coord|9|16|57.25|N|79|12|5.91|E|type:landmark_region:IN|display=inline,title}}
}}
The New Pamban Bridge (pronounced: /pɑːmbən/ romanised: pāmban) is a vertical lift railway sea bridge that connects the town of Mandapam in mainland India with Rameswaram on Pamban Island. The new bridge is constructed parallel to the old Pamban Bridge opened in 1914 and was planned to replace the same. The bridge stretches across a length of {{cvt|2.07|km}} and is the first vertical lift sea bridge in India. It consists of 100 spans including a {{cvt|72|m}} vertical lifting central section. The construction of the bridge was completed in 2024 and the bridge was opened for traffic in April 2025.
Background
The old Pamban Bridge was opened in February 1914 and carried rail traffic between Rameshwaram in Pamban Island and mainland India.{{cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infrastructure/pamban-bridge-10-awesome-facts-about-indias-first-sea-bridge/will-turn-100-in-february-2014/slideshow/25683811.cms|title=Pamban bridge: 10 awesome facts about India's first sea bridge - Pamban bridge: India's first sea bridge|access-date=1 December 2023|work=The Economic Times|archive-date=11 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240711112517/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/infrastructure/pamban-bridge-10-awesome-facts-about-indias-first-sea-bridge/will-turn-100-in-february-2014/slideshow/25683811.cms|url-status=live}} The bridge underwent several overhauls over the years to extend its lifespan.{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/global/2009/0511/026-india-delhi-subway-builder.html|title=Delhi's Subway Builder|newspaper=Forbes|date=1 May 2009|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article519853.ece|title=Strengthening of Pamban Railway Bridge|date=17 July 2010|newspaper=The Hindu|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217101612/http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/article519853.ece|url-status=live}} The bridge was damaged in an accident in 2013 and the Ministry of Railways planned to invest {{INRConvert|25|c}} to upgrade the bridge in 2016.{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/barge-collides-into-century-old-rail-bridge-near-tamil-nadu-coast-316687|title=Ship collides into century-old rail bridge|work=NDTV|date=13 January 2013|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/repair-work-on-pamban-bridge-fast-progressing/article4310384.ece|title=Repair work on Pamban bridge fast progressing|newspaper=The Hindu|date=16 January 2013|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=15 September 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240915202940/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/repair-work-on-pamban-bridge-fast-progressing/article4310384.ece|url-status=live}} In December 2018, fissures developed on the bridge, which halted railway traffic and the Government of India considered building a replacement bridge.{{cite news|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/trains-to-rameswaram-cancelled-due-to-repair-work-on-pamban-bridge/articleshow/66956514.cms|title=Trains to Rameswaram cancelled due to repair work on Pamban|date=5 December 2018|newspaper=The Times of India|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=23 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240723002135/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/trains-to-rameswaram-cancelled-due-to-repair-work-on-pamban-bridge/articleshow/66956514.cms|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://press108.online/india/train-services-from-rameswaram-to-mandapam-suspended-due-to-crack-in-pamban-bridge/|title=Train Services from Rameswaram to Mandapam Suspended due to Crack in Pamban Bridge|date=18 December 2018|work=Press108|access-date=1 March 2019|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140242/https://press108.online/india/train-services-from-rameswaram-to-mandapam-suspended-due-to-crack-in-pamban-bridge/|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|url=https://press108.online/india/ministry-of-railways-confirms-new-bridge-in-pamban/|title=Ministry of Railways confirms New Bridge in Pamban|date=25 December 2018|work=Press108|access-date=1 December 2023|archive-date=1 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190301140327/https://press108.online/india/ministry-of-railways-confirms-new-bridge-in-pamban/|url-status=dead}} In December 2022, rail transportation on the old bridge was suspended permanently as the bascule section had weakened significantly due to corrosion.{{cite news|date=3 February 2023|title=Rail traffic on old Pamban bridge permanently stopped|newspaper=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/rail-traffic-on-old-pamban-bridge-permanently-stopped/article66467820.ece|access-date=4 February 2023|issn=0971-751X}}
Planning and construction
In 2020, Government of India announced that a new railway bridge will be constructed near the old Pamban Bridge at a cost of {{INRconvert|5|b}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2024/Oct/15/new-pamban-bridge-will-be-opened-after-crs-inspection-in-november-says-southern-railway-official|title=New Pamban bridge will be opened after CRS inspection in November, says Southern Railway official|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=15 October 2024|access-date=1 November 2024}} The construction contract was awarded to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited. The foundation stone for the new bridge was laid by prime minister Narendra Modi in November 2019 and the construction commenced in February 2020.{{cite web |date=2 December 2022 |title=New Pamban Bridge: What you need to know about India's first vertical lift sea bridge |url=https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/india-first-vertical-lift-sea-bridge-new-pamban-bridge-railways-ministry-11739641.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=Firstpost |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714053718/https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/india-first-vertical-lift-sea-bridge-new-pamban-bridge-railways-ministry-11739641.html |url-status=live }}{{cite web |date=1 December 2022 |title=New Pamban bridge, India's first vertical lift sea bridge, is 84% complete. See pics |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/new-pamban-bridge-india-s-first-vertical-lift-sea-bridge-is-84-complete-see-pics-101669909623773.html |access-date=1 July 2023 |newspaper=The Hindustan Times}}
File:Indian Railways New Pamban Bridge View.jpg
The construction of the pillars and spans for a single track was completed in September 2024 with trial runs conducted in October 2024. The bridge was expected to be opened for traffic by late 2024 post the approval of the Commission of Railway Safety (CRS). In late November, the CRS permitted operation of trains at a maximum speed of {{cvt|75|kph}} with the speed further limited to {{cvt|50|kph}} on the lifting bascule section. However, the CRS highlighted several concerns and discrepancies in the construction of the bridge such as the usage of non standard designs that are not approved by the Research Design and Standards Organisation, deviation from standard welding procedures that reduced the stress carrying capacity by 36% and insufficient addressing of corrosion.{{cite news|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/new-pamban-railway-bridge-gets-nod-for-passenger-service-812853|title=New Pamban Railway bridge gets nod for passenger service|newspaper=DT next|date=28 November 2024|access-date=29 November 2024}} In response, the Southern Railway clarified that the bridge was designed by the Spanish consultancy Técnica y Proyectos S.A. according to European and Indian design codes and was proof checked by experts from IIT Madras and IIT Bombay.{{cite news|date=28 November 2024|title=Southern Railway clarifies that Pamban Bridge was designed by TYPSA, proof checked by IIT Madras|url=https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/southern-railway-clarifies-that-pamban-bridge-was-designed-by-typsa-proof-checked-by-iit-madras-812923|access-date=29 November 2024|work=DT next|archive-date=3 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241203202756/https://www.dtnext.in/news/tamilnadu/southern-railway-clarifies-that-pamban-bridge-was-designed-by-typsa-proof-checked-by-iit-madras-812923|url-status=live}}
In January-February 2025, further trials were conducted with simultaneous lifting of the bascule sections of the old and the new bridges, and the running of train rakes.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/trial-of-lifting-centre-spans-of-old-new-pamban-rail-bridges-conducted/article69164426.ece|title=Trial of lifting centre spans of old, new Pamban rail bridges conducted|newspaper=The Hindu|date=1 February 2025|access-date=1 February 2025}} In March 2025, final trials and rehearsals were conducted prior to the opening of the bridge for traffic.{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/pamban-railway-bridge-trial-successful-ready-for-inauguration-by-pm-modi/videoshow/119745410.cms?from=mdr|title=Pamban Railway Bridge trial successful|newspaper=The Economic Times|date=1 February 2025|access-date=1 February 2025}} The bridge was opened for traffic on 6 April 2025 by the Indian prime minister.{{cite news |title=PM Modi Opens India's First Vertical Lift Sea Bridge in Rameswaram, Marking a New Era of Connectivity |url=https://www.brutimes.com/news/social/pm-modi-opens-indias-first-vertical-lift-sea-bridge-in-rameswaram-marking-a-new-era-of-connectivity |work=Bru Times News |date=6 April 2025 |access-date=6 April 2025}}
Design
The new bridge is constructed parallel to the old bridge and spans a length of {{cvt|2.07|km}}. It has a bascule section of about {{cvt|72|m}} which can be lifted vertically using a Scherzer rolling lift trunnion and is the first vertical lift sea bridge in India.{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/new-pamban-rail-bridge-commissioner-of-railway-safety-permits-operation-of-trains-but-flags-glaring-lapses/article68917864.ece|title=New Pamban rail bridge: Commissioner of Railway Safety permits operation of trains but flags ‘glaring lapses’|newspaper=The Hindu|date=27 November 2024|access-date=29 November 2024|archive-date=29 November 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241129063737/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/new-pamban-rail-bridge-commissioner-of-railway-safety-permits-operation-of-trains-but-flags-glaring-lapses/article68917864.ece|url-status=live}}{{cite web |date=29 December 2022 |title=When Heritage Meets Technology: Take A Look At India's First Vertical Lift Rail Sea Bridge |url=https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/new-pamban-bridge-indias-first-vertical-lift-rail-sea-bridge-588873.html |access-date=14 July 2023 |work=India Times |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714053023/https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/new-pamban-bridge-indias-first-vertical-lift-rail-sea-bridge-588873.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |date=4 December 2022 |title=New Pamban bridge work picks up momentum, expected to be over by March 2023 |newspaper=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/new-pamban-bridge-work-picks-up-momentum-expected-to-be-over-by-march-2023/article66222775.ece |access-date=14 July 2023 |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=14 July 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230714055657/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/new-pamban-bridge-work-picks-up-momentum-expected-to-be-over-by-march-2023/article66222775.ece |url-status=live }} It has 99 spans of {{cvt|18.3|m}} length each apart from the vertical lifting span. It is situated about {{cvt|12.5|m}} above sea level, and is about {{cvt|3|m}} higher than the old bridge. The vertical lifting central span of the bridge allows ships of up to {{cvt|22|m}} height to pass through.{{cite news|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/tamil-nadu/test-lifting-of-pamban-bridge-to-link-rameswaram-island-with-mainland-successful-3217248|title=Test lifting of Pamban bridge to link Rameswaram island with mainland successful|newspaper=Deccan Herald|date=2 October 2024|access-date=2 October 2024}} The bridge is planned to carry a double track railway line.{{cite web|title=Railway Vertical Lift Bridge - Pamban Bridge|url=https://www.mc2.es/en/proyect/railway-vertical-lift-bridge-pamban-bridge/|access-date=30 November 2024|work=Técnica y Proyectos S.A.}}