Six decades after a cyclone severed the Chennai-Colombo route, the newly inaugurated Pamban Bridge revives hope for stronger regional connectivity between India and Sri Lanka.
Once a seamless journey, the train-and-ferry route from Chennai to Colombo was a remarkable example of early regional connectivity. Beginning at Chennai’s Egmore station, the trip ran along India’s southeastern coast, over the original Pamban Bridge to Rameswaram, and onward to Dhanushkodi by rail. From there, a short ferry ride across the Palk Strait carried passengers to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka—where a connecting train would take them straight to Colombo.
That iconic connection ended in 1964 when a devastating cyclone wiped out the rail link between Rameswaram and Dhanushkodi and damaged the old Pamban Rail Bridge. Since then, trains have only gone as far as Rameswaram, and the ferry service across the Palk Strait has remained suspended.
A New Bridge, a New Opportunity
Fast forward to April 6, 2025—Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a state-of-the-art Pamban Bridge, replacing the 110-year-old structure and restoring full rail access to Rameswaram. More than just an infrastructure upgrade, the bridge is now seen as a catalyst for reimagining regional connectivity, including the long-awaited revival of a direct link between India and Sri Lanka.
This idea is rooted in colonial-era planning, when British officials envisioned an uninterrupted land-and-sea route connecting the two territories for easier movement of goods and people. The original Pamban Bridge, built in 1914, was a critical part of that strategy. But the final connection—across the narrow, 25-kilometre Palk Strait between Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar—was never completed.
Reviving a Lost Route for Modern Times
The Indo-Ceylon Boat Mail service, which combined rail and ferry travel between Chennai and Colombo, was a celebrated example of international travel in South Asia. Its suspension in 1964 marked the end of a vital regional link. Now, with the new bridge in place and a renewed focus on infrastructure-led diplomacy, the idea of re-establishing this route is gaining serious attention once again.
In recent years, various proposals have explored building a bridge or undersea tunnel across the Palk Strait. In 2002, Sri Lanka even suggested a road-and-rail bridge, but security concerns from Tamil Nadu’s leadership shelved the plan. In 2015, India’s Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari pitched the project to the Asian Development Bank, which expressed support—but it was later dismissed by Sri Lankan authorities.
Momentum Returns for Regional Connectivity
Now, in a changing geopolitical and economic landscape, the project is being re-evaluated. In 2024, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced that a new feasibility study was nearing completion. There was even speculation that India might finance the entire $5 billion venture—although this was later softened by other officials.
India has already taken on a leading role in improving Sri Lanka’s railway network. During PM Modi’s latest visit, he and President Anura Kumara Dissanayake jointly inaugurated two India-supported rail projects. India has also helped modernize several other lines across Sri Lanka, deepening bilateral cooperation and setting the stage for greater regional connectivity.
Why This Link Matters
Sri Lanka remains the only one of India’s neighboring countries without a functioning rail link. India already shares railway ties with Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, and plans for Bhutan are underway. Reviving the Chennai-Colombo corridor via Dhanushkodi and Talaimannar could unlock major benefits—from boosting bilateral trade and tourism to strengthening cultural and people-to-people ties.
With political shifts in Tamil Nadu, strong diplomatic relations, and a renewed infrastructure push, the time may be right to turn this long-standing vision into reality. The new Pamban Bridge is more than a symbol of engineering progress—it could be the first step in reconnecting South Asia’s disconnected links.