Pamban Bridge Explained

Pamban Bridge was India's first sea bridge when opened in 1914.

The railway bridge connects Rameswaram on Pamban Island with mainland India.

Pamban Bridge spans a 2.06 km wide strait over the sea.

The 2,065 m long structure rests on 143 concrete piers.

A double-leaf bascule section sits midway along the railway bridge.

The Scherzer rolling type lift span opens for passing ships.

Each leaf weighed 415 t and took 45 minutes to lift.

Workers opened the two leaves manually using levers.

An adjacent road bridge opened parallel to the railway in 1988.

Rail transportation on Pamban Bridge was suspended permanently in December 2022.

The New Pamban Bridge was completed in 2024 nearby.

In January 2026, Indian railways announced plans for dismantling the old bridge.