No Entry: Iconic 'Premam bridge' in Aluva shut down permanently

The 'Premam Bridge' aqueduct in Aluva, which gained fame after being featured in the blockbuster movie 'Premam' directed by Alphonse Puthren and starring Nivin Pauly, has been closed by authorities. The aqueduct was shut down due to nuisance caused by anti-social elements and couples. The 2.2 km long aqueduct, which starts from Uliyannoor Kadavu near the market and ends near the UC College, has been closed with gates installed at three points - Uliyannoor Kadavu, UC College, and the entrance point at Thottakkattukara.

The aqueduct was constructed nearly half a century ago to transport water from Bhoothathankettu to Paravoor for agricultural purposes. The water, which comes through an underground pipeline to Aluva, is then carried through the aqueduct to the UC College area and eventually flows into the Periyar Valley canal, which leads to Paravoor.

Prior to the construction of the bridge across the Periyar River, the aqueduct served as a pedestrian route for residents of Uliyannoor and Kunjunnikkara. Once the Uliyannoor bridge was completed, the aqueduct was no longer used and was effectively abandoned. The aqueduct too became a hit following the release of the 'Premam' movie in 2015. It became a hotspot for couples and other people. However, the aqueduct soon transformed into a hub for anti-social elements and drug peddlers, creating difficulty for the locals. Women and children couldn't even step out of their homes due to the nuisance. The aqueduct has witnessed multiple scuffles among drug peddlers. Some of them even assaulted the locals who questioned them. People were often seen creating a ruckus on the aqueduct after getting drunk in the evenings.

Councillor Tintu Rajesh approached the authorities with a complaint about the nuisance caused by anti-social elements on the aqueduct. He submitted a complaint to the Periyar Valley and the Municipality. The nearby Residents' Associations had also demanded that the aqueduct be closed. The Municipal Council passed a unanimous resolution to close the aqueduct and requested the Periyar Valley to do so. Additionally, Tintu Rajesh submitted a complaint in the Nava Kerala Sadas. Following this, a decision was made to close the aqueduct. An amount of one lakh rupees was also sanctioned for installing gates.