PM set to open new bridge to Rameswaram on Ram Navami

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to inaugurate the new

Pamban bridge

in Tamil Nadu on Ram Navami (April 6), which will improve rail connectivity to Rameswaram - one of the holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites.
Rameswaram is believed to be the place where Lord Ram built the bridge to Lanka, as recounted in the Ramayana, to defeat Ravan. Over 25 lakh pilgrims visit the Rameswaram temple annually and the upgraded infrastructure is expected to be a bigger boost to tourism and pilgrimage.
As far as symbolisms go, the significance of the likelihood of PM inaugurating the bridge on the day of Ram Navami, the day when Hindus believe Lord Ram was born, is big enough. But what makes it even more interesting is the timing of the likely inauguration-when DMK govt in Tamil Nadu has virtually been on a warpath against Centre over the language issue and yet-to-be announced delimination.
The new bridge, country's first vertical sea bridge, is expected to ensure greater comfort for travellers.

Sources said the preparation for commercial opening of the sea bridge is in full swing and top railway officials from Southern Railway have been inspecting the bridge and the Rameswaram railway station in the past few days. The inauguration is likely soon after the PM returns from his two-day trip (April 4 and 5) to Sri Lanka, they added.
The little over 2-km rail bridge is an engineering marvel that reconnects the mainland to Rameswaram Island, replacing the old corroded bridge. The old bridge constructed in 1914 was the only link between Rameswaram and the mainland, and was a cultural icon for over 110 years. This was the country's first sea bridge and was a lifeline for locals, pilgrims, and traders. Exposure to saltwater and aging infrastructure caused severe corrosion, which eventually led to its closure in 2022.
Officials said the new one isn't just a replacement, but a more modern and efficient one as it can accommodate growing traffic volumes, ensure durability and facilitate maritime navigation. Modi had laid the foundation stone for the new bridge in Nov 2019 and actual construction began three months later.