Collector Opens New Pambaru River Bridge, Linking Villages Across Three Districts

Collector inaugurates high-level bridge across Pambaru river in Tirupattur

Residents of farming villages near Natham can now use a new high-level bridge across the Pambaru river, after the facility was opened for public use on Thursday.

The bridge, located near Vaniyambadi town in Tirupattur, is expected to ease movement for residents living along the river and provide a safer crossing during heavy rains.

Bridge replaces flood-damaged causeway

Officials of the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA), which executed the project, said the bridge had been a long-standing demand of at least 13 farming villages along the river.

The new structure has replaced a dilapidated causeway that was built more than four decades ago to connect surrounding villages with neighbouring towns.

The causeway was washed away during the 2021 floods, leaving residents dependent on longer routes to reach nearby towns and essential services.

The bridge was funded under the NABARD XXV Scheme for 2025-26 and was built at a cost of ₹2.48 crore.

It is 29.19 metres long and 7.5 metres wide, providing enough space for two buses to use it.

The structure can discharge around 30,000 cusecs of water per second and has been built at least three metres from the river bed to help prevent inundation during floods.

Access across three districts

The facility will provide easier access to residents of border villages in Tirupattur, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

V. Karthikeyan, Assistant Engineer (AE), DRDA (Tirupattur), said the bridge would help farmers transport their produce to common markets in surrounding big towns.

“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,” Karthikeyan told The Hindu.

The new structure will also end a detour of at least 10 kms for residents of surrounding farming villages travelling to Jolarpet, Vaniyambadi, Tirupattur and areas in Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri districts.

Residents said the shorter route would improve access to government schools, health centres, banks, ATMs, the agricultural office, the cooperative society and the taluk office.

Approach roads have also been laid to connect surrounding villages with the new facility.

Other facilities inaugurated

Collector V. Nallasivan inaugurated the bridge along with a fair price shop, two Over Head Tanks (OHT) and new classrooms for Government Primary Schools in the district.

The bridge and the other public facilities were inaugurated at a total cost of ₹5.61 crore.

The bridge includes tiled footpaths, LED lights, inlets to discharge rainwater into the river, reflectors, sign boards and hand railings.

“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.

Source: The Hindu