The Indian Railways, Coast Guard, State Administration, and Police successfully conducted a rehearsal for the opening of the new Pamban Bridge last week. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the bridge on Ram Navami, April 6, 2025.
As part of the rehearsal, the old Pamban Bridge, featuring the Scherzer span, was also opened to allow a Coast Guard vessel to pass. The exercise synchronized the operation of both the old and new Pamban Bridges, ensuring precise timing. After the Coast Guard ship crossed beneath the lifted span of the new bridge, the span was lowered to assess the timing.
Once the lift span was lowered, a train was operated from Pamban to Mandapam and back to verify the timings. Authorities concluded that the trials were successful.
According to sources, Prime Minister Modi will visit Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, for the inauguration and will also offer prayers at the Ramanathaswamy Temple.
The 2.5-kilometer-long Pamban Bridge will significantly reduce the time for trains to cross the sea between mainland India and Rameswaram Island, cutting the journey to under five minutes compared to the 25–30 minutes required on the old colonial-era bridge.
Earlier, successful trials were conducted on the new bridge, and safety certifications have already been obtained.
According to railway officials, the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) has approved a speed limit of 75 kmph for the bridge, except for the vertical lift portion, which has been permitted a limit of 50 kmph. The bridge itself is designed for speeds of up to 80 kmph, but due to a curve, the CRS has recommended a maximum speed of 75 kmph.
The old Pamban Bridge was the only link to the pilgrimage destination of Rameswaram and the popular tourist spot of Dhanushkodi from 1914 until 1988, when a road bridge was commissioned. Until then, train services provided the only connection between Mandapam and Rameswaram Island, situated in the Gulf of Mannar.