Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Pamban railway bridge, connecting Rameswaram island with Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu.
The bridge was built by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd. at a cost of ₹531 crore and is 2.08 km long.
It features a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that can be raised 17 metres to allow ships to pass underneath.
New train services between Rameswaram and Tambaram, Chennai, were also launched.
Modi laid the foundation stone for a four-lane highway from Walajahpet (near Chennai) to the Andhra Pradesh border.
He dedicated three other four-lane highway projects in Tamil Nadu.
Described as India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, Modi called it an “engineering wonder” blending technology and tradition.
The bridge replaces the old British-era Pamban railway bridge and is three metres taller.
It will improve connectivity, boost trade and tourism, and support ease of business and travel.
The structure uses stainless steel reinforcement and protective paint to withstand the corrosive environment of the Palk Strait.
Modi highlighted the role of modern infrastructure in India’s economic growth, noting a sixfold increase in investments in railways, roads, ports, airports, and utilities over the past decade.
He mentioned other major projects:
In the north, Chenab rail bridge (Jammu & Kashmir) - one of the highest rail bridges in the world
Atal Sethu in Mumbai, the longest sea bridge, has come up in the Western part
Bogibeel bridge, the longest rail-cum-road bridge, has been built over the Brahmaputra in Assam in the east
A dedicated freight corridor was also being readied while work on the bullet train project was under way.
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