The bridge over Vembanad Lake, providing direct road connectivity between Perumbalam Island and the mainland, is set to open by mid-February 2026.
Officials said construction of the bridge was completed several months ago, and work on the approach roads on the Perumbalam and Vaduthala sides was nearing completion. “Painting of the bridge is almost complete. The approach road on the Vaduthala side is nearly finished, while work on the Perumbalam side is progressing well, with about 90% completed. As things stand, the entire project is expected to be completed within one and a half months,” said an official.
Once the bridge is opened, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) will launch bus services to Perumbalam. Short-distance buses operating from the island will terminate at New South Jetty, while long-distance services will halt near the bridge.
The bridge has been a long-pending demand of the people of Perumbalam, the only island grama panchayat in Alappuzha district. It will make travel hassle-free for around 15,000 islanders, who currently depend on boats to commute between their village and the mainland.
The bowstring arch bridge is 1,157 m long and 11 m wide. Linking Perumbalam and Vaduthala in Arookutty, it has 30 spans, including three navigation spans. Of these, 27 are 35 m long, while the three in the middle are 55 m each. The carriageway is 7.5 m wide. Footpaths on both sides are 1.5 m wide. The approach roads, once completed, will have a combined length of 650 m.
The ₹100-crore project is funded under 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-Thripunithura 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. The construction of all three bridges is 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.
Published – December 22, 2025 04:18 pm IST
