On Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked the auspicious occasion of Ram Navami by inaugurating the New Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, heralding it as India’s first vertical-lift sea bridge. The event showcased a blend of cultural celebration and infrastructural milestones.

During the ceremony, PM Modi also launched a new Coast Guard ship, which navigated beneath the bridge, and initiated the Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) train service. The Ministry of Railways highlighted that this 2.07-kilometer marvel, stretching across the Palk Strait in Tamil Nadu’s Ramanathapuram district, symbolizes India’s advanced engineering capabilities and forward-thinking infrastructure projects.

Linking Rameswaram Island to Mandapam on the mainland, the bridge, constructed by Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL)—a Navratna PSU under the Ministry of Railways—at a cost exceeding Rs 700 crore, features a 72.5-metre navigational section that can lift vertically up to 17 metres, facilitating safe passage for ships. Designed to accommodate two railway tracks, it currently operates on a single line, supporting train speeds of up to 80 kmph and built to manage increased traffic and heavier loads.

The bridge is engineered for durability, boasting a 100-year lifespan, thanks to innovative techniques that minimize maintenance needs. It incorporates stainless steel reinforcements, fully welded joints, high-grade protective paint, and a polysiloxane coating to combat the corrosive marine environment.

Drawing comparisons to iconic structures like the Golden Gate Bridge in the USA, Tower Bridge in the UK, and the Oresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, the New Pamban Bridge stands out for its cutting-edge design and technology. It replaces the old Pamban Bridge, constructed in 1914 by British engineers with a manually operated Scherzer’s span, which was decommissioned from rail use due to safety issues.

Following his three-day visit to Sri Lanka, PM Modi, upon arriving in Tamil Nadu, planned to offer prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple in Rameswaram and lay the foundation for several rail and road projects valued over Rs 8,300 crore in the state.

En route from Sri Lanka, PM Modi captured an aerial view of the Ram Setu, also known as Adams Bridge, and shared it online. “On the way back from Sri Lanka a short while ago, was blessed to have a Darshan of the Ram Setu. And, as a divine coincidence, it happened at the same time as the Surya Tilak was taking place in Ayodhya. Blessed to have the Darshan of both. Prabhu Shri Ram is a uniting force for all of us. May His blessings always remain upon us,” he posted on X.

Ram Setu, a series of shoals extending 48 km between Rameswaram Island and Mannar Island in Sri Lanka, separates the Gulf of Mannar from the Palk Strait, serving as a natural divider between these two bodies of water connected to the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal, respectively.

A major controversy has erupted at Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, after a political science exam paper allegedly linked the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) with terror organisations. The incident has led to protests by student groups and disciplinary action against the professor responsible.

The question appeared in the second semester political science exam held on April 2, sparking backlash as it reportedly mentioned RSS alongside groups such as Naxalites, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front, and Dal Khalsa, in a question about the rise of religious and caste-based politics in India.

ABVP protests on campus, professor apologises

Following the incident, members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) — the student wing of RSS — held a protest on the university campus on Friday. They submitted a memorandum to the registrar, demanding action over the question they said “hurt sentiments.”

The professor in question, Seema Panwar, from the affiliated Meerut College, has been barred from all future examination and evaluation duties. University Registrar Dhirendra Kumar Verma confirmed that Panwar submitted a written apology, stating she had no intention of hurting anyone’s sentiments.

University initiates probe after paper surfaces online

The exam paper, including the controversial question, surfaced on social media, further fuelling the uproar. The university administration has launched an investigation, citing the seriousness of the issue and promising corrective measures to prevent recurrence.

Registrar Verma assured that “strict steps” would be taken to maintain academic integrity and ensure that such incidents do not happen again.

President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi extended their greetings to the nation on the occasion of Ram Navami.

In a post on X, Murmu expressed her heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to everyone celebrating the sacred festival of Ram Navami. She emphasized that this festival embodies the principles of religion, justice, and duty.

She noted that Lord Shri Ram, revered as Maryada Purushottam, exemplifies the ideals of sacrifice, commitment, harmony, and courage. Murmu urged all citizens to take a pledge on this auspicious occasion to work collectively towards building a developed India.

Prime Minister Modi conveyed his wishes, stating that he hopes the blessings of Lord Ram will always guide everyone in their endeavors. Later in the day, he plans to visit Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu to offer prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple.

“Ram Navami greetings to all! May the blessings of Prabhu Shri Ram always be with us and guide us in all our endeavors,” he wrote on X, also mentioning his anticipation of his visit to Rameswaram.

Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, also shared his wishes for Ram Navami, hoping that this divine festival brings happiness, peace, and prosperity to everyone.

In Rameswaram, the Prime Minister will inaugurate the new Pamban Rail Bridge, India’s first vertical lift sea bridge, around noon. He will also flag off a train and a ship from the road bridge while observing the operation of the bridge.

Following this, at approximately 12:45 p.m., he will perform darshan and puja at the Ramanathaswamy temple. Around 1:30 p.m., Modi will lay the foundation stone and dedicate various rail and road projects worth over ₹8,300 crore to the nation in Tamil Nadu, and deliver a speech to the gathered crowd on this momentous occasion.