The aqueduct in Aluva, which gained popularity due to its being featured in Alphonse Puthren's hit film Premam, starring Nivin Pauly in the lead, has been shut down by the irrigation department. Four iron gates have been installed, with two of them at both ends of the bridge and the other two at the two entrances in the middle. The region's ward councillor had earlier complained to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the Nava Kerala Sadas meeting about the increased nuisance on the bridge caused allegedly by drug peddlers and anti-social elements. This led to the decision to close the bridge. Built 45 years ago, the elevated aqueduct was designed to carry water from the Periyar Valley canal to Paravur, extending 4 km from Uliyannoor in Kadungalloor panchayat to near Union Christian College in Aluva. Water flows through the lower part of the bridge, and walking on top offers a skywalk-like view of nature, which has been a major attraction.

Until the release of Premam only local people knew about the spot. After the release of the  film, it attracted visitors from outside too and it became known as the 'Premam Palam.' When B.A. Abdul Muttalib, a native of Uliyannoor, was vice-president of the district panchayat, he had proposed a Rs 50 lakh project to lay tiles on the bridge, repair handrails, and transform it into the "Periyar Aerial Walkway". But after he left the office, the project was stalled. Despite minor age-related damage, "Premam Palam" continues to serve as the conduit for supplying water to Paravur.

TAGS