The long-awaited bridge over Vembanad Lake, providing direct road access between Perumbalam island and the mainland, is set to open in the coming months.
Officials say the construction of the bridge has been completed and work on approach roads on the Perumbalam and Vaduthala sides is progressing. “The painting of the bridge is in progress. The approach road on the Vaduthala side is 90% completed and work on the Perumbalam side is progressing well. As things stand, the entire project is set to be completed in two months,” says an official.
The construction of the bridge has been a long-pending demand of the people of Perumbalam, the only island grama panchayat in Alappuzha. Once opened, the bridge will make travel hassle-free for around 15,000 islanders who currently depend on boats to commute between their village and the mainland. Local residents have also demanded that the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) launch bus services to Perumbalam once the bridge is opened.
The bowstring arch bridge has a length of 1,157 metres and a width of 11 metres. The bridge, linking Perumbalam and Vaduthala in Arookutty, has 30 spans, including three navigation spans. Of these, 27 are 35 metres long, while the three in the middle are 55 metres each. The carriageway has a width of 7.5 metres. Footpaths on both sides are 1.5 metres wide. Once completed, approach roads will have a total length of 650 metres.
The ₹100-crore project is funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The bridge is part of the government’s broader plan to connect the Cherthala-Arookutty road with the Vaikom-Poothotta-Tripunithura State Highway through Perumbalam island. In the next phase, the government plans to construct a bridge connecting Perumbalam island and Vattavayal island. A third bridge will be constructed between Vattavayal and Poothotta. Together, the three bridges are expected to significantly improve connectivity between Ernakulam, Alappuzha, and Kottayam districts.
The Perumbalam bridge work is being carried out by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS).
Published – September 04, 2025 05:49 pm IST
