ALAPPUZHA: Mundakkal bridge across river Pampa will soon become a reality much to the relief of 800 students of the only higher secondary school in Kainakary, the remotest village in the Kuttanad region here.
Students of the SNDP HSS, Kuttamangalam, mostly girls from remote places like Alappuzha, Nedumudi and Aryad, were affected by the irregular boat services of the state water transport department (SWTD). Once the bridge becomes reality, people can cross the river within two or four minutes without a long wait.
“If you miss the boat, you will have no service on the same route except private ferry. We’ve to spend at least two hours every morning at the school waiting for teachers and friends,” Sheela Sajeev, president, Kainakary panchayat said.
Kainakary panchayat was ruled by Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the last 40 years, and they are still ruling, but the questions on the irregular services and unavailability of road connectivity are still out of imagination for them. They play, as usual, the blame game.
Sunil P. Padmanabhan, a ward member, belonged to LDF, said they had many a time complained to the authorities about the delay of services that keep taking a toll on the academic life of the pupils. “But, the situation, unfortunately, remains the same,” he said.
Meanwhile, the SWTD officials say they were conducting all regular services without fail now. “I can’t say anything about the service which we are not operating. We try out best to operate services promptly without fail,” an official said.
