Vertical lift span of New Pamban Rail Bridge operated for first time since inauguration

New Pamban Rail Bridge's vertical lift span operated for the first time, allowing a barge and fishing boats to pass.

A huge barge from Vizag and 33 big fishing boats passed through Pamban navigational channel under the new rail bridge

For the first time since it was inaugurated on April 6, the vertical lift span of the New Pamban Rail Bridge was operated on Wednesday to facilitate passing of a barge along the Pamban navigational channel under the bridge.

The 72.5-metre-long vertical span was operated through electro-mechanical system at around 1 p.m. to allow the huge barge and 33 big-size fishing boats.

The barge that had come from Vishakapatnam in Andhra Pradesh was proceeding towards Karwar Port in Karnataka.

“The lifting and lowering of the vertical span went off smoothly without any hitch,” said Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava.

Along with the vertical lift span of the new brige, the cantilever spans of the decommissioned old Pamban Rail Bridge were also operated to permit the barge and the fishing boats to pass under it.

The vertical lift operation ran into a controversy as it got stuck in the middle when it was being lowered immediately after Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated it on April 6.