Construction of Perumbalam bridge across Vembanad Lake making progress

Construction of Perumbalam bridge across Vembanad Lake making progress

The construction of a bridge over Vembanad Lake connecting Perumbalam island to the mainland is making steady progress.

Officials said concreting of the first span has been completed. The bridge will have a total of 30 spans, including three navigation spans. Of these, 27 will have a length of 35 m each, while the three in the middle will be constructed at a length of 55 m each.

Aroor MLA Daleema Jojo on Friday visited the construction site and reviewed the progress.

Once completed, the bowstring arch bridge with 31 pillars will have a length of 1,110 m and a width of 11 m. The width of the carriageway will be 7.5 m. Footpaths on both sides will have a width of 1.5 m.

The bridge links Perumbalam and Vaduthala at Arookutty village. Officials said that approach roads with a total length of 550 m will be constructed on both ends. “The land acquisition for the construction of the approach roads has been completed. An approach road with a length of 300 m will be constructed on the Vaduthala side, while the road on the Perumbalam side will have a length of 250 m. Construction commenced on the land at Perumbalam,” said an official.

The ₹100-crore project funded under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) is expected to be opened for traffic by December 2023.

The construction of the bridge was a longpending demand of the people of Perumbalam, the only island grama panchayat in Alappuzha. The bridge will make travel hassle-free for around 15,000 islanders who currently use boats to commute between their village and the mainland.