India’s New Vertical Lift Sea Bridge Inches Closer To Launch With Successful Load Deflection Test

In a significant milestone, Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL) completed a load deflection test on the New Pamban Bridge yesterday (21 August), marking a crucial step in the project’s progress.

The bridge is about 2.2 km long and will connect Mandapam town in mainland India to Pamban Island and Rameswaram. It will replace the existing century-old iconic structure built during British rule.

The trial involved twin GOC WDG4D locomotives from the Golden Rock Shed and was conducted in collaboration with the Structural Engineering Research Centre (SERC) in Chennai.

The primary objective of the test was to evaluate the structural integrity and performance of the bridge under load conditions.

Experts from RVNL and SERC closely monitored the test, which is considered pivotal in ensuring the safety and reliability of the new bridge, which will serve as a key transportation link, reports Times Of India.

The 72.5-metre-long vertical single lift span is designed to move up and down, allowing ships to pass under the bridge.

The new bridge, with a single railway line and provision for a second, will replace the old Pamban rail bridge built in 1914. 

The construction began in 2019 and was initially expected to be completed in two years, but COVID-19 and related lockdowns delayed progress.

In December 2022, Southern Railway had to abruptly stop train services on the old Pamban rail bridge due to safety concerns, resulting in trains bound for Rameswaram being short-terminated at Mandapam railway station.

This railway bridge is significant as it connects the mainland to Rameswaram, a historic south Indian town and one of the four Char Dham pilgrimage sites, along with Badrinath in the north, Dwarka in the west, and Puri in the east.

This bridge exemplifies the dynamic synergy of tradition and innovation, a hallmark of India's growth story.