Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday fulfilled a long-cherished demand of the people of Perumbalam Island and inaugurated the Perumbalam Bridge in the coastal district, ending generations of waiting for a direct road link to the mainland.
Fulfilling a long-appreciated demand of the residents of Perumbalam Island, Mr. Vijayan on Saturday inaugurated the Perumbalam Bridge in the coastal district, ending generations of waiting for a direct road link to the mainland.
Built across the scenic Vembanad Lake, the Perumbalam Bridge is the longest bridge in the southern state built over a stretch of backwater.
The opening of the bridge is expected to end the decades-long travel woes faced by residents of Perumbalam, which is surrounded by a lake on all sides, authorities said.
The bridge connects Perumbalam Island with Arookutty panchayat under Aroor Assembly constituency in Alappuzha district.
Dedicating the bridge to the people, Mr. Vijayan said the Left government was committed to ensuring that no place in the state was left “untouched” by development.
He said that in the last decade under the current government, several development projects have been implemented which would normally take 50 to 100 years to complete.
According to him, the Perumbalam Bridge is not just a development project but a symbol of his government’s determination and will.
He described the bridge as the fulfillment of a long-cherished demand of local residents.
“Some question whether such projects would not be implemented regardless of which government is in power. But Kerala’s experience over the last decade shows that this is not the case,” Vijayan said.
”The reality of development projects
The Chief Minister noted that about a decade ago, the state had several damaged roads and bridges and a long list of development projects that remained unimplemented for years.
Mr. Vijayan asked the gathering if they had ever imagined that such a bridge would come up before 2016, the year the LDF government came to power.
The Chief Minister stated that the sought-after bridge has now become a reality only because the Left government is in power “If the LDF government was not in power, who would take care of the people of Perumbalam? How would this bridge become a reality?” he asked.
The ultimate aim of the Left government is to create a ‘Nava Kerala’ (new Kerala) where it will care equally for the development of the state and the welfare of its people, he said.
While PA Public Works Minister Mohamed Riyas said the government had overcome all obstacles to make the project a reality, Dalima Jojo, MLA, said the bridge was once a dream for the locals and that the government led by Mr Vijayan made it a reality.
Authorities said the new bridge will provide smoother transportation for the island’s residents as well as visitors to the area for various purposes and is expected to contribute significantly to the socio-economic development of the region.
Until now, the islanders have only depended on water transport, and the bridge will now provide them with a direct road connection to the mainland.
₹100 crore project
Included in the 2016–17 state budget, the project was completed at a cost of ₹100 crore with financial assistance from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The structure is 1,155.40 meters long and consists of 27 fields of 35 meters each. It also includes three arched arches with arches 55 meters long to ensure that it does not impede water traffic across the lake.
The bridge is 11 meters wide and has 1.5 meter wide pedestrian walkways on both sides. It was designed to allow travelers to enjoy the scenic beauty of Vembanad Lake.
The bridge is also expected to open up new opportunities for tourism in Perumbalam, which has significant tourism potential, they added.
Published – 07 March 2026 22:06 IST
