Alappuzha, 07 March (H.S): A decades-old dream of the residents of Perumbalam, the largest island in the Vembanad Lake, is set to become a reality as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurates the Perumbalam Bridge on Saturday. The bridge, stretching over one kilometre across the Vembanad Lake, will be formally dedicated to the public at 11 a.m., marking a major milestone in the region’s infrastructure development.

Constructed at a cost of ₹100 crore through funding from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), the Perumbalam Bridge is now the longest bridge built across the Vembanad Lake. The project is expected to transform connectivity for thousands of island residents who have long depended almost entirely on boats for transportation.

Perumbalam is a large island located in the Vembanad Lake, measuring roughly six-and-a-half kilometres in length and about two kilometres in width. The island comprises 14 wards and is home to more than 12,000 people. Though administratively part of Alappuzha district, its unique geography places it close to both Ernakulam and Kottayam districts, making it an important link in the region’s network of waterways and settlements.

For generations, the people of Perumbalam — most of whom are fishermen, coir workers and farmers — have lived with limited access to the mainland. With boats and small ferries being the only reliable means of transport, residents often faced difficulties in accessing education, healthcare, employment and markets on the mainland. The demand for a permanent bridge connecting the island to the rest of the district had been a long-standing aspiration of the community.

The completion of the Perumbalam Bridge is expected to significantly improve mobility, economic opportunities and access to essential services for the island’s residents. It is also likely to boost tourism and facilitate faster movement of goods and people across the region.

Along with the bridge, another major infrastructure project in the district — the Alappuzha–Changanassery (AC) Road — will also be inaugurated. The road project is expected to further strengthen regional connectivity and ease travel between the coastal and central parts of Kerala.

Together, these projects mark an important step in improving infrastructure in Alappuzha district and addressing long-standing demands of local communities.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman