India's First Vertical Bridge To Be Opened on Ram Navami

India’s most popular Pamban Bridge is all set to be inaugurated by PM Modi. It will be the first vertical lift bridge, shaping the railways and maritime services by allowing them to extend to a higher reach. The 2.08 km long bridge was the only connector between Rameshwaram and the mainland of India. The older bridge was close to 110 years old, having been built during the British Era and having sustained harsh weather and corrosion over a prolonged period of use.

The upgrade has ensured that the main pivot of the bridge can be raised to 17 meters in height and allows the ships to pass underneath the bridge. The previous bridge could only raise the pivot to a few meters, and it generally took close to 45 minutes for the bridge to be settled down and start the operations. However, the current bridge can successfully lift in just 5 minutes, which increases the efficiency for the railways and the ships.

The bridge has been constructed at a cost of close to 582 crores and designed in a way that will keep the railway and maritime network active throughout the time. The bridge is believed to sustain even more than the previous bridge mainly because of the materials and compounds used in the manufacturing of the bridge.

The Pamban bridge is also one of the tourist destinations which has claimed the popularity because of the railroad which is covered with sea all around. Many people visit the place during the monsoon, which gives a breathtaking experience for the tourists. Rameshwaram is a religious destination that is often influxed by people, and majorly, the travellers prefer taking a rail network to reach Rameshwaram. Thus, the bridge plays a pivotal role in passenger travel

There are a lot of speculations around the Pamban bridge. One of the most serious is when the wind speeds reaches close to 60 kmph, the train services are halted because of safety reasons. However, with the development of the new bridge, the trains can now travel even when the wind speeds are high. The weight of the vertical bridge is said to be close to 330 metric tonnes, which can carry the trains at a speed of 80 kmph, marking the resilience of the amazing engineering.

The new development will ensure no disruption to the railway and maritime network and will enhance the travel experience for the people. The construction has changed the game and now can be regarded as a marvellous wonder.