PM Modi inaugurates Pamban bridge in TN, CM Stalin skips event

M K Stalin skips Pamban Bridge inauguration, joins anti-delimitation protests

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the Pamban bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, and flagged off train service linking Rameswaram island to the rest of the country. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin skipped the event. Modi flagged off a Coast Guard ship that sailed under the bridge and also laid foundation stone for and dedicated to the nation various rail and road projects totally worth over Rs.8,300 crore. In his address, Modi said the day marked the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami and that Lord Ram’s good governance is the foundation for nation-building.

Modi also outlined the connection Tamil Nadu had to Lord Ram by quoting Sangam era literature. On the fishermen issue vis-a-vis Sri Lanka, he said over the past decade, more than 3,700 fishermen have been brought back from Sri Lanka, including over 600 in the past year alone. While Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin skipped the event and upped the ante on the delimitation issue, saying Modi should allay the fears of the people on the proposed exercise, the PM, without naming anyone, hit back by picking the Tamil pitch. He batted for imparting medical education in Tamil medium to help the poor and said the state got 11 new medical colleges in recent years.

Against the background of the DMK regime crying foul over fund allocation to the state, Modi said that over the past decade, the Central government has allocated three times more funds for Tamil Nadu’s development compared to the period before 2014. He noted that this increased funding has greatly contributed to Tamil Nadu’s economic and industrial growth. The PM, referring to beneficiaries from the state in respect of several initiatives, said that despite the increased allocation to Tamil Nadu, some “cry” over funds.

Since 2014, with the support of the Central government, 4,000 kilometers of roads have been constructed in Tamil Nadu, and the project involving an elevated corridor to connect Chennai Port will be another example of remarkable infrastructure. The PM said the new Pamban bridge to Rameswaram symbolizes the union of technology and tradition. He emphasized that a town “thousands of years old” is now connected by a 21st-century engineering marvel.

Modi underlined that this bridge is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge, allowing big ships to sail underneath while enabling faster train travel. The bridge linking Rameswaram to the mainland was a remarkable feat of Indian engineering, and it was built at a cost of over Rs.700 crore. It is 2.08 km in length and features 99 spans and a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, facilitating smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train operations.

Constructed with stainless steel reinforcement, high-grade protective paint, and fully welded joints, the bridge boasts increased durability and reduced maintenance needs. It is designed for dual rail tracks to accommodate future demands. The over Rs.8,000 crore projects include the foundation stone for the four-laning of the 28 Km long Walajapet – Ranipet section of NH-40 and dedication to the Nation of the 4-laned 29 Km long Viluppuram– Puducherry section of NH-332.

These highways will connect many pilgrim centres and tourist places, reduce the distance between cities, and enable faster access, besides empowering local farmers to transport agricultural products to the nearby markets and boost economic activity. Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi, Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and L Murugan, and elected representatives were present.

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