Kerala’s First Extradosed Cable-Stayed Bridge Inaugurated in Alappuzha

Alappuzha has marked a new milestone with the inauguration of Kerala's first extra-dosed cable-stayed bridge at Thottappally Naluchira. This landmark bridge connects the Karuvatta-Kuppappuram road to National Highway 66, bridging the Ambalapuzha and Kuttanad constituencies and enhancing connectivity across the district.Spanning a length of 458 meters and a width of 10.50 meters, the Thottappally Naluchira Bridge is designed with pedestrian access in mind, featuring 1.50-meter-wide footpaths on both sides. By linking the Ambalapuzha-Thiruvalla State Highway to the National Highway, the bridge provides a critical infrastructure boost.Funded under the KIIFB initiative at a cost of Rs 56.82 crore, the bridge began construction in 2020, following budget allocation in 2016-17. This required the acquisition of 2 acres and 60 cents from private lands. The bridge’s strategic location in Naluchira, previously a traffic-free zone, will now provide residents from Illichira and Naluchira seamless access to the National Highway.In tandem with this project, the construction of a bypass from Karumadikuttan Mandapam to Thottappally Kottaravalavu is also underway, with an allocated budget of Rs 90.625 crore. This bypass will connect to the National Highway via the Naluchira Bridge and pass through Wards 7 of Ambalapuzha Thekku Panchayat and Wards 6 and 7 of Purakkad Panchayat.Both projects together promise a substantial uplift to Alappuzha’s tourism and transport sectors, showing the district's dedication to infrastructural development and regional connectivity.