Goa, April 7 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi's inauguration of the New Pamban Bridge in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu, has brought attention to the advanced design and enhanced resilience of the bridge, especially in its ability to withstand severe weather conditions. According to MP Singh, director of operations at Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), the bridge is engineered to handle cyclones with wind speeds of up to 230 kmph, far surpassing the intensity of the 1964 cyclone that significantly damaged the old bridge.

The 1964 cyclone, which had wind speeds around 160 kmph, caused considerable destruction to the original bridge. Despite the damage, the Scherzer Span, which could be opened to allow ships to pass, survived the storm unscathed. Sin...