Rameswaram, Apr 6 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the country’s first Vertical

Lift Railway Sea Bridge --the New Pamban Bridge--that connects Rameswara Island and the mainland,

in Tamil Nadu on Sunday.

In a symbolic launch of the vertical lift span bridge, he flagged off a new train service between Rameswaram and Tambaram and a Coast Guard ship, at a brief function held on the Pamban

Road Bridge.

Following his visit to Ramanathaswamy Temple on the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami,

Mr Modi officially dedicated to the Nation, the New Pamban Bridge and a host of Road and

National Highway projects to the tune of Rs 8,300 crore at a grand function held in Tamil Nadu Alayam Grounds.

A Southern Railway release said the new train service connects important cultural and economic

hubs along its route and is a boon for daily travellers, pilgrims, tourists and traders.

Soon after the train passed the vertical lift span of new Pamban Bridge, the Prime Minister remotely launched the vertical lift mechanism of the bridge for maritime traffic.

As the bridge ascended, the Coast Guard ship C-432 conducted its maiden passage underneath

the new Pamban Bridge. The ICG ship C432, indigenously built by L&T Ltd., is a state of the art vessel and is commanded by Assistant Commandant Avkash Rawat and assisted by Assistant Commandant Akshay Madhu along with a crew of 13 ICG personnel.

The new Pamban Bridge, an engineering marvel that connects Palk Bay to the Gulf of Mannar,

will be very useful for the Coast Guard ships for effective patrolling on either side of the sea.

In his keynote address, Mr expressed pride in the New Pamban Bridge, calling it a 21st Century Marvel of Engineering and commended the efforts of engineers in constructing such an iconic landmark.

Short video films elaborating the salient features and benefits of the new Pamban Bridge and that

of the Road/Highways projects, was screened during the event after the PM unveiled the plaques marking the dedication of projects.

The new Pamban Bridge, a landmark of modern engineering, woud benefit over 25 lakh pilgrims visiting the Rameswaram annually. Facilitating smooth rail traffic and maritime navigation, the new bridge will improve connectivity between the sacred town of Rameswaram to various parts of the country.

He also laid the Foundation Stone for 4 Laning of Walajahpet / Ranipet - Tamil Nadu / Andhra Pradesh Border Section of NH-40 and dedicated to the Nation 4 Laned Villupuram - Puducherry Section of NH-332, 4 Laned Poondiyankuppam - Sattanathapuram Section of NH-32 and 4 Laned Cholapuram - Thanjavur Section of NH-36.

These road projects executed by the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH),

will ensure smooth traffic flow, shorter travel time while strengthening linkages between major

ports and key coastal areas in Tamil Nadu.

UNI GV 1820