Perumbalam Bridge

The Perumbalam bridge, also known as Perumbalam-Panavally Bridge is a bow string arch bridge under construction in Alappuzha district in Kerala, India. It is being constructed across the Vembanad lake to connect the village island Perumbalam to the mainland Arookutty. The bridge will be having a length of 1100 m and is expected to be opened to public in 2024.

Overview
Perumbalam in Alappuzha district is the largest island village in Kerala. At present, the people of Perumbalam depend on boats and jankar services to connect with mainland areas (Arookutty and Panavally) in the district of Alappuzha. Although the locals have been raising the demand for the bridge for the past five decades, the state government inaugurated the construction of the bridge in 2019. Meanwhile, another construction company, Cherian Varki Construction Company, filed a lawsuit against Uralungal labour society, which had contracted the construction of bridge, and the government. This resulted in the delay of the project. The Kerala High Court finally ruled in favor of Uralungal society and the government, and the construction work was resumed in late 2021.

The total construction cost for the project is nearly 100 crores. It is being implemented with the funds of KIFBI from the Government of Kerala. The will have a length of 1115 m and width of 11 m. The span of the bridge is 11.0 m with 27 spans of 35 m length and 3 bow string arch spans of 55 m length. The carriageway will have a width of 7.5 m and the footpaths on both sides will have a width of 1.5 m.