When was the Pamban Bridge built? During whose time was the old Pamban Bridge built? How much money was allocated for the construction of the old Pamban Bridge? Under whose leadership is the Rameshwaram Pamban Bridge functioning? Current allocation of funds and new information about the new bridge?

New Pamban Bridge

The name Ambanur, in the vernacular, was called Pamban. Now the island is known as Pamban Island. Amban is a town in Rameswaram taluka in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the western edge of Pamban Island and is a famous fishing port. The town is the name of the entire island. Pamban Railway Station is the first railway station on the island for devotees going to Rameswaram. It is located between Pamban Island (Rameswaram) and the Indian mainland (Mandapam).

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Old Pamban Bridge - Key Information:

Ø  Year started: 1911

Ø  Completed: 1914

Ø  Opened: 24 February 1914

How much money was allocated for the construction of the old Pamban Bridge: The old Pamban Railway Bridge was built in the year 1914. At that time, the construction cost of the bridge was around ₹20 lakhs (₹2,000,000). This information is mentioned on the Wikipedia history page about John Sinclair, first grandson of Pendlant.

Who was in charge at the time: Pamban Bridge was built during the British India era. Therefore, it was not under the leadership of the Indian government or Indian political leaders. At that time, India was under British rule. The bridge was built by the British government and the Indian Railways.

Construction company:

The bridge was designed as a "Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridge". It is a ring-shaped folding bridge, allowing ships to pass through. It is about 2.065 km long and is the most important part of India's sea-crossing before independence. The bridge has been in use for over 100 years, and was severely damaged in the tsunami and cyclone of 1964. Since then, it has been repaired several times. Later, due to its maintenance and safety reasons, construction of a new bridge was started. Currently, a new vertical lift bridge is being built to replace the old bridge (in 2025).

The renovated Pamban Rail Bridge is a major project connecting Rameswaram and the Indian mainland. The bridge is India's first vertical lift sea rail bridge, measuring 2.07 km in length, with a 72.5-metre-long span that can be raised to a height of 17 metres, allowing large ships to pass underneath.

Funding and Management:

The bridge was built by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), a subsidiary of the Ministry of Railways. The central government has allocated Rs 8,300 crore for the new Pamban Bridge and other projects.

Latest Updates:

https://youtu.be/1_hUDTh2GXo?si=lvhDhyoJ4jZpoCaO

https://www.instagram.com/tripwithmp/re

Ø  Prime Minister Inaugurated: On April 6, 2025, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the bridge and laid the foundation stone of various rail and road projects in Rameswaram.

Ø  Technical Features: The new bridge is designed to support double track railways, which is future-proof.

Ø  Safety and Durability: The bridge is built with modern materials such as stainless steel wires, high-grade protective coating, and fully welded joints to ensure durability in the marine environment.

The new Pamban Bridge is expected to make a major contribution to the economic development of Rameswaram and its surrounding areas, boosting tourism and trade. Pamban Bridge is a golden landmark in Indian history