SABARIMALA: Bailey bridge, built by the army at Sabarimala will be closed after this pilgrimage season. The bridge will be destroyed and a new bridge will be built between Chandrandan road and Gosala. It has been planned to complete the construction works before the next pilgrimage season.

The bridge is being constructed to divert the devotees to Pampa after visiting Sabarimala. KEL and a private company based in Uttara Khand have come forward to undertake the project. Money for the project will be sanctioned from KIFBI by including the project in Sabarimala master plan.

At present, devotees are being diverted through the fly over above ‘nadappanthal’.This fly over will be made as a place for resting after the construction of new bridge. A new path will be constructed for the tractors as well.

The iron pillars of Bailey Bridge are rusted and no maintenance work has been made in recent years. The bridge cost Rs 75lakhs at that time and was built within two weeks.