The ferry service across river Manimala at Thelappuzha kadavu in Mallappally taluk is soon to become a thing of the past with the commissioning of the newly built hanging steel bridge linking Kottangal and Anikkad panchayats.
Inspecting the hanging steel bridge on Wednesday, District Collector, P. Venugopal, said the hanging bridge would be a great solace to the hundreds of people in the two panchayats who have been hitherto depending on the ferry service between the Thelappuzha kadavu and Sasthamkoickal kadavu on either banks of the river.
The erection of the hanging bridge began a year ago including the project in the River Protection Programme of the State Government. The project estimated at Rs 82.5 lakhs has already been completed and the bridge will be opened for the public after consulting the Revenue Minister, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, the collector said.
So far, the villagers of Anikkad and Kottangal panchayats lying on the opposite banks of the Manimala had to travel not less than six kilometers through the Kulathjoormoozhi Bridge to reach the panchayat headquarters situated on the opposite bank.
The 123-metre long, four-metre wide steel bridge has been fixed to the two iron pillars erected on either banks of the river. Kerala Electricals Limited at Mamala in Ernakulam has constructed the bridge and the repair works on the bridge approaches on either banks of the river would be completed soon, Mr Venugopal said.
