PM Modi inaugurates Pamban bridge, takes swipe at state govt with Tamil pitch

Amid the debate and opposition to the “three language formula” in Tamil Nadu, Modi played the “Tamil pride” card, emphasising the importance of the language and heritage, and even asking the state government to “start medical courses in Tamil language”.

Saying that there is growing global interest in India today, he said: “People want to know India, want to understand India. India’s culture and our soft power also play a big role in this. The government is constantly trying to ensure that Tamil language and heritage reaches every corner of the world.”

“Many states across the country have started medical education in the mother tongue. Now, even the sons or daughters of the poorest mothers who have not studied English can become doctors. I would also request the Tamil Nadu government to start medical courses in Tamil language,” Modi said, adding that the state had got 11 new medical colleges in recent years.

Modi’s remarks come in the backdrop of the state government opposing the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical colleges.

“Sometimes, I am surprised when I receive letters from some leaders of Tamil Nadu. No leader ever signs in Tamil. For the pride of Tamil, I would tell everyone to at least sign in Tamil… I believe that we have to take this great tradition further in the 21st century. I am confident that this land of Rameswaram and Tamil Nadu will continue to give us new energy and inspiration,” he said.

Pamban Bridge (Image source: Ministry of Railways)

Earlier, Modi laid the foundation stone and dedicated to the nation various rail and road projects worth over Rs 8,300 crore. He also flagged off the Rameswaram-Tambaram (Chennai) Express and a Coast Guard ship which passed under the bridge.

Noting that former President A P J Abdul Kalam, “whose life demonstrated how science and spirituality complement each other”, hailed from Rameswaram, Modi said the new Pamban bridge, too, “symbolises the union of technology and tradition”. A town that is thousands of years old is now connected by a 21st-century engineering marvel, he said, adding that the vertical lift railway sea bridge would allow big ships to sail underneath while enabling faster train travel.

The new bridge “supports both Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Travel, positively impacting the lives of lakhs of people,” he said.

“In the past 10 years, India has doubled the size of its economy,” he said, adding that a key reason behind this rapid growth was modern infrastructure. In the last decade, the budget for infrastructure such as railways, roads, airports, ports, electricity, water and gas pipelines has increased nearly six-fold, he said. “Today, mega projects are progressing rapidly across the country,” Modi said.

“Tamil Nadu plays a significant role in India’s journey toward becoming a developed nation,” Modi said, adding that as the state’s potential grows, India’s growth will accelerate further.

Countering the DMK government’s criticism on fund allocation, Modi said that in the last decade, the Centre had allocated three times more funds to the state as compared to the period before 2014.

“Infrastructure of Tamil Nadu is a priority… In the last decade, the railway budget of Tamil Nadu has increased more than seven times. Despite this, some people have a habit of crying without any reason. They keep crying,” Modi said. He listed several development works, including construction of roads, that were carried out after 2014.

“India’s blue economy will play a significant role in the country’s growth, and Tamil Nadu’s strength in this sector will be recognised globally,” he said, adding that the state had received substantial funds under the PM Matsya Sampada Yojana (for fisheries). Modi said that over 3,700 fishermen had been brought back from Sri Lanka, including over 600 in the past year alone.

The state’s small farmers have received nearly Rs 12,000 crore under the PM-Kisan Samman Nidhi, and Rs 14,800 crore from the PM Fasal Bima Yojana, he said. Over 4 crore pucca houses have been provided to poor families across the country, including over 12 lakh in Tamil Nadu, under the PM Awas Yojana over the last decade, he said. Nearly 12 crore rural families across the country have received piped water for the first time, including 1.11 crore families in Tamil Nadu, he said.

“Providing quality and affordable healthcare to citizens is a commitment of our government,” he said, adding that under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, over 1 crore treatments were provided in Tamil Nadu, saving expenses of Rs 8,000 crore for families in the state.

Earlier in the day, Modi visited the Ramanathaswamy temple at Rameswaram. “Shri Ram’s life and the inspiration of good governance from his reign serve as a significant foundation for nation-building…On the occasion of Ram Navami… I feel blessed that I could pray at Ramanathaswamy temple,” he said.

“What a coincidence, it is the holy day of Ram Navami, the land of Rameswaram, and the Pamban bridge was inaugurated today… The person who built the old bridge was born in Gujarat, and today, the person who inaugurated the new bridge was also born in Gujarat,” Modi said. The old bridge was built by a Gujarat-based contractor, Karoji Kutz.

The new Pamban bridge will replace the British-era bridge of 1914 whose operation was stopped in December 2022. Built parallel to the old bridge at a cost of over Rs 700 crore, the new bridge is 2.08 km in length and features a 72.5-metre vertical lift span that rises up to a height of 17 metres, allowing smooth movement of ships while ensuring seamless train operations.

Explaining the challenges involved in the construction, a senior Southern Railway official said: “Once the substructure — 101 piers standing on 333 piles — was laid, the superstructure was fabricated with steel girders. The girders have been fabricated out of specially rolled long steel plates, each 19.80 metres long, in order to avoid joints. The fabrication of steel girders was done at Sathirakudi station, 30 km from the coastline and 57 km from the bridge site, chosen to prevent corrosion during the process.”

With the new train service, Rameswaram will now be connected by 15 pairs of trains.

Modi also inaugurated some road infrastructure projects, including a 29-km-long four-laning of Viluppuram-Puducherry national highway; a 56.8-km-long four-laning of Poondiyankuppam-Sattanathapuram national highway; and a 48-km-long four-laning of Cholapuram-Thanjavur highway.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw were among those present on the occasion.