The Mukkam-Kadavu bridge, to be opened by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Friday, is expected to boost the development prospects of Mukkam and surrounding villages of Koodaranhi, Thiruvambady and Kodencheri.
Besides cutting short the distance from a number of places to Mukkam, the bridge is expected to make an impact on the tourism sector as well.
The Rs.18-crore project, for which the work started in October 2012 and completed on time by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society (ULCCS), was handed over to the authorities a few months ago. However, its formal inauguration was delayed as the approach road could not be built at one side following delay in acquiring land.
The ‘Y’ shaped bridge, which ensures an easy connection for Koodaranhi, Thekkumkutti, Karamoola, and Thiruvambadi to Mukkam, will facilitate easy access to vehicles from the neighbouring district of Wayanad to places such as Karipur International Airport without touching Mukkam town. “The new infrastructure has got several developmental implications to the entire region and it is a facility that should have come much earlier,” said Mukkam Muhammed, district convener of the Left Democratic Front (LDF).
Mukkam being an important market for hill produces and cash crops from the ghat regions of Thiruvambadi, Koodaranhi, and Thekkumkutty, the infrastructure is expected to be a major boon for farmers as it will help them transport the farm produces to the market much easily. The bridge will cut short distance from Thiruvambady to Mukkam (which is 8 km now to 5 km).
According to local MLA C. Moyinkutty, the bridge would have several positive ramifications for the tourism sector as well since it would bring major destinations, including Thusharagiri and Kozhippara waterfalls, much closer to the people from the neighbouring district of Malappuram.
