Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu: The iconic Pamban railway lift bridge, along with the newly built vertical lift bridge over the Pamban Sea, was reopened after nearly three months, allowing ships and tourist vessels to pass through the channel. Officials have indicated that the reopening of the century-old British-era railway bridge may be its last, with dismantling work expected to begin next week.

Connecting Rameswaram Island to mainland Tamil Nadu, the bridges serve as a crucial link for rail and maritime traffic. On Friday, two sailing vessels, one from Mangaluru to Cuddalore and the other from Cuddalore to Mangaluru, passed beneath the lifted bridges. A tourist ship en route from Kochi to the Andaman Islands and an Indian Navy vessel traveling north also crossed the stretch.

The event drew large crowds of tourists eager to witness the rare sight of ships navigating under the lifted structures. Cameras and smartphones captured the historic moment, marking a nostalgic farewell to the century-old bridge.

Railway authorities confirmed that the old Pamban railway lift bridge could soon be dismantled as part of ongoing infrastructure modernization, making Friday’s opening potentially its final operation.