Residents of Kaniyambatta are questioning whether a mere warning signboard is an adequate solution for the perilous condition of a crucial hanging bridge in the region. The suspension bridge, running parallel to the Kallanchira bridge across the Karani River, was constructed two decades ago as part of the Western Ghats development project.

Recently, the panchayat secretary installed a warning sign prohibiting entry to the bridge. This permanent board replaced a flex banner that had been put up about a month ago, also cautioning about the bridge's dangerous state.

However, local residents have launched protests against both the panchayat secretary and the ruling coalition, arguing that a ban on entry is insufficient and that the bridge, which has been in a dangerous condition for years, should be repaired. They question the feasibility of people crossing the river simply by relying on a warning sign, asserting that a tangible solution to the underlying problem is needed.

Adding to their grievances, residents allege sabotage, claiming that despite an allocation of ₹1.05 crore for rebuilding the hanging bridge and constructing the connecting road – a project included in the first stage of the Idukki district development conclave – progress has been stalled. Significantly, this hanging bridge serves as the sole access route from Kallanchira to the Chittoor area, and also provides crucial connectivity to numerous tribal settlements.

The bridge's structural integrity is severely compromised: the steps on both sides are completely ruined, the iron ropes are broken in multiple sections, and the aluminium sheets are in a dilapidated state, posing a significant danger. Constructed in 2005, the bridge was repaired by the panchayat once.