The seven floating sea bridges introduced along the State’s coastline will soon be functional again with the government approving the Floating Bridge Regulation, Operation and Safety Guide License and Checklist prepared by the Kerala Adventure Tourism Promotion Society (KATPC). The new operational guidelines were prepared after the safety of floating bridges came under scrutiny when a portion of the floating bridge at Varkala collapsed in strong currents, injuring around 15 people.
Four out of seven floating bridges were dismantled last year following accidents. The new guidelines stipulate that the activity shall be allowed in Kerala only between October and April, as waves will be strong along the coast for the rest of the months. The report also said that the design of the new floating bridge be done ideally by considering the site-specific conditions, hydrodynamic effects of waves, and current acting on the floating bridge.
Heeding warnings
As per the new guidelines, a wind speed measuring device should be installed and operations should be permitted only if the wind speed is less than 12 knots. Similarly, the operation shall abide by the warnings from other agencies like the India Meteorological Department or Disaster Management Agency. The operation shall be suspended if there is any warning of tsunami, earthquake, or thunderstorms.
People with spinal or knee issues and children below 10 years and adults above 70 years will not be allowed on the floating bridge. A person will be allowed to stay on the bridge for a maximum of 15 minutes. If there are warnings of swell waves higher than 1.5 m and a wind speed of more than 15 knots, the bridge shall be dismantled and kept safe by the shoreside, it said.
Instructions on walking
The floating bridge should have an adequate number of handrails. However, tourists will be instructed not to hold the handrails as a safety measure while walking. Also, tourists should be instructed to walk through the centre and not the sides, to maintain equilibrium of the bridge. If there are two rows of tourists, they should be instructed to walk on both sides symmetrically, the report said.
“The suspended floating bridges at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram, Tanur in Malappuram, Muzhappilangad in Kannur, and Bekal in Kasaragod will be allowed to restart operations adhering to the guidelines and after inspections. The floating bridges at Beypore in Kozhikode, Chavakkad in Thrissur, and Kuzhuppilli in Ernakulam are currently operational. Further, two more floating bridges will be set up in Alappuzha and Kollam,” said Binu Kuriakose, Chief Executive Officer, KATPS.
Published – January 27, 2025 08:32 pm IST