New bridge to connect Amboori's high ranges
: The Kumbichalkadavu Bridge in Amboori, the state's longest multi-span river bridge, will be inaugurated in July by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Built over the Karippayar River with seven spans, the bridge was completed at a cost of Rs 24.71 crore, funded by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
This major infrastructure project connects the remote southern high ranges of Amboori with urban centres, ending decades of isolation for rural and tribal communities. Once open, it will directly benefit over 1,000 tribal families across 11 settlements in Thodumala, including Karikkuzhi, Chakkappara, Sankumkonam, Kaipanplavila, Thenmala, and Kunnathumala.
Parassala MLA C K Hareendran confirmed that the inauguration will take place before July 25, once finishing touches are completed.
"The exact date is yet to be fixed," he said. Hareendran added that the bridge addresses a long-standing demand of around 2,800 residents in the area, who previously relied on unsafe country boats and rafts to cross the river.
In addition to the bridge, a network of 16 connecting roads, both major and minor, is under construction at a cost of Rs 7.99 crore.
These routes will extend through Chakkappara and Kunnathmala, further improving accessibility and integrating the bridge into the local infrastructure.
The bridge is also being positioned as a tourism getaway, complementing attractions like the Neyyar dam, Agasthyarkoodam trekking base, and the Meenmutty waterfalls.
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