Kurumbanmuzhy, Arayanjilimon to Finally Receive Lifeline Bridges

Swift Summary

• Residents of arayanjilimon adn Kurumbanmuzhy, located near Pathanamthitta’s forest fringes, face frequent isolation during heavy rains as the Pampa River overflows, submerging causeways.
• Two bridges are planned to end this recurring problem. Their construction will begin following inauguration by Minister O.R. Kelu on November 11 and is expected to be completed within eight months.
• The Kurumbanmuzhy bridge costs ₹3.97 crore,to be built by Steel Industries Limited Kerala; while the Arayanjilimon bridge costs ₹2.68 crore, managed by Kerala State Construction Corporation.
• Ranni legislator Pramod Narayan cited challenges in securing government approvals for these projects and confirmed all clearances are now in place.
• Residents of Kurumbanmuzhy are highly vulnerable due to geographical isolation-surrounded by Sabarimala forests on three sides and hindered by siltation caused during the 2018 floods.
• Requests from local residents for clearance of riverbed debris left behind from a dam project remain unaddressed despite promises.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The construction of bridges at Arayanjilimon and Kurumbanmuzhy marks progress toward addressing long-standing connectivity issues for these isolated communities. For decades,heavy rains have trapped villagers without access to essential services like healthcare or education-a situation worsened after the devastating 2018 floods that reduced the causeway’s viability substantially.

While deliberate efforts were required to obtain permissions-a noted bottleneck-it is commendable that both technical bodies (Steel Industries Limited Kerala and Kerala State Construction Corporation) have been allotted distinct roles with funding clarity. Tho, earlier delays raise valid concerns about project execution timelines given residents’ urgent needs.

The unresolved issue of clearing riverbed debris points toward a lack of coordination among government departments-a gap requiring swift redressal in parallel with infrastructure projects to ensure long-term functionality against future flooding risks. If successfully implemented within eight months as planned, these bridges could greatly alleviate systemic challenges confronting marginalized communities near Pathanamthitta’s forest fringe regions.

Read more: Published – August 25, 2025