A view of Bairakuppa kadavu, where residents depend on canoe service.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
The proposed Bairakuppa bridge across the Kabani River, which would provide a crucial link between Wayanad and neighbouring Karnataka, is finally being revived after decades in limbo.
During a tour of the hill district last week, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced that she had urged Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar to expedite the project, which has languished for 32 years since its foundation stone was laid.
Ms. Vadra, who visited the project site, said that the bridge was expected to be completed under the Central Road Infrastructure Development Fund. A fortnight ago, Mr. Shivakumar had also assured Public Works Minister P.K. Basheer, during the latter’s visit to Bengaluru, that the Karnataka government would take steps to accelerate the project.
The bridge project, connecting Bairakuppa and Mullankolly Kadavu, was conceived in 1994, with the foundation stone jointly laid by former Kerala Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and former Karnataka Chief Minister M. Veerappa Moily.
The 160-metre bridge, estimated to cost around ₹2 crore at the time, was to provide an alternative route to Mysuru and Bengaluru via H.D. Kote, reducing the Kalpetta–Mysuru travel distance by 110 km from 140 km.
At present, residents on both sides of the Kabani River rely on canoe services for their daily commute. At times, about 500 passengers use the crossing every day, which is presently served by only five to eight canoes.
“Earlier, the Karnataka government had objected to the project because the proposed highway connectivity route passed through forest land, and the matter was delayed due to the lack of forest clearance. However, the Karnataka government has now laid a road through revenue land under an irrigation project, bypassing the restricted forest area,” said I.C. Balakrishnan, Sulthanbathery MLA.
During the monsoon season, the increased flow of the river creates significant difficulties for commuters, including schoolchildren.
Residents are forced to use the longer road route through Bavali and Kattikulam, which passes through forest areas and makes daily travel, particularly at night, highly inconvenient.
“Once the monsoon sets in and water levels rise, the number of students attending classes at Perikkalloor Higher Secondary School drops significantly. In addition, commuting becomes a major challenge for those travelling to work in Pulpally and Perikkalloor,” said Binu Madhavan, a resident of Bairakuppa.
“The absence of a bridge has made it difficult for people living on the Bairakuppa kadavu side to reach the hospitals and schools of Perikkalloor,” added Ratish Raju, a resident of Mullankolly.
Published – June 29, 2026 07:45 pm IST
