Fri Apr 04 08:09:40 UTC 2025: ## New Pamban Rail Bridge Receives Safety Clearance

**Madurai, April 4, 2025** – A high-level committee has certified the structural safety of the newly constructed Pamban rail bridge, clearing the way for its inauguration. The five-member panel, appointed by the Ministry of Railways, concluded that the 2.08-km bridge meets all Indian Railway Standards. The committee’s January 11th report, obtained by The Hindu, specifically praised the design of the 72.5-meter vertical lift span, noting its review by IIT-Madras and IIT-Bombay, and the quality of welding work. While the bridge’s speed is limited to 80 kmph on the lift span due to curvature, the committee declared the bridge “structurally safe.”

The formation of the committee followed concerns raised by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS) during a statutory inspection. Although the CRS cleared the bridge for operation, he noted “glaring lapses” in the ₹531-crore project’s planning and execution. The committee’s report addresses these concerns and recommends improved collaboration between consultants, RDSO, and academic institutions for future projects.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the bridge on April 6th.

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