Collector inaugurates high-level bridge across Pambaru river in Tirupattur

A new high-level bridge across Pambaru river, a tributary of Then Pennai river, at Natham village near Vaniyambadi town in Tirupattur was opened for public use on Thursday, bringing relief to hundreds of residents in the region.

Officials of District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), which executed the work, said that the new facility was a long standing demand of at least 13 farming villages along the river.

The new bridge, built at a cost of ₹2.48 crore, will provide easy access to residents of border villages in Tirupattur, Dharmapuri, and Krishnagiri districts. “The new bridge will help farmers to transport farm products to common markets in surrounding big towns. Buses will also be operated on the new bridge to reach remote villages,” V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Engineer (AE), DRDA (Tirupattur), told The Hindu.

Accompanied by S. Thamilarasi, project director, DRDA, Collector V. Nallasivan inaugurated the new bridge and other public facilities including a fair price shop, two Over Head Tanks (OHT) and new classrooms for Government Primary Schools in the district at a total cost of ₹5.61 crore. “The opening of the new bridge before heavy rains is a welcome measure as residents can cross the river safely. Ambulances can also use the bridge to reach villages along the river,” said T. Veeran, a resident.

DRDA officials said that the new bridge has replaced the dilapidated causeway, which was built more than four decades ago, to connect surrounding villages with neighbouring towns. The causeway was washed away during 2021 floods.

Funded under NABARD XXV Scheme for 2025-26, the new bridge is 29.19 metres long and 7.5 metres wide - enough for two buses. The new bridge can discharge around 30,000 cusecs of water per second. It has been built at least three metres from the river bed to prevent inundation during floods.

The new bridge has tiled footpaths, LED lights, inlets to discharge rainwater into the river, reflectors, sign boards, and hand railings. Approach roads were also laid to connect the surrounding villages to the new facility. 

The new structure will end a detour of at least 10 kms for residents in surrounding farming villages to reach nearest towns like Jolarpet, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur and areas in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts. It will provide easy access to basic facilities like government schools, health centres, banks, ATMs, agricultural office, cooperative society and taluk office, residents said.