MADURAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate the country’s first vertical lift sea bridge at Rameswaram in Ramanathapuram district on Sunday.
After winding up his Sri Lanka visit, Modi, apart from inaugurating the new bridge in Pamban, will also flag off a new train service between Rameswaram and Tambaram in Chennai. Later, the prime minister is expected to visit Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram around 12.45 pm. He will also lay the foundation stone for various rail and road projects worth Rs 8,300 crore.
Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reached Madurai late on Saturday.
These road projects include four-laning of 28-km long Walajapet-Ranipet section of NH 40 and dedication to the nation of 4-laned 29-km long Villupuram-Puducherry section of NH 332; 57-km long Poondiyankuppam-Sattanathapuram section of NH 32 and 48-km long Cholapuram-Thanjavur section of NH 36. The highway projects will connect the pilgrim centres, tourist places and are also expected to help farmers transport agricultural products to nearby markets and boost economic activity of small scale industries.
The railways said, “Bridging the past, lifting the new, Pamban stands tall with a breathtaking view. This Ram Navami, witness India’s First Vertical Lift Railway Sea Bridge’s unveiling!” It said the bridge, linking Rameswaram to the mainland, stands as a remarkable feat of Indian engineering on the global stage.
The 2.08-km-long bridge, built at Rs 550 crore, featuring 99 spans and a 72.5-m vertical lift (that rises up to a height of 17m), is designed for dual rail tracks to accommodate future demands.
Meanwhile, the town has come under security cover. A total of 2,700 policemen, including IGP South Zone, two DIGs, 12 SPs, 13 ADSPs, 35 DSPs, will be part of the bandobast.
(With inputs from PTI)