COIMBATORE: A motorboat service was launched for tribal residents to cross the Kandhaiyaru river at Linganur in the Sirumugai town panchayat on Sunday.Residents of Kandhavayal, Kandhaiyur, Mokkaimedu and Uliyur regularly cross the river for work, education and shopping. Whenever the water level in the Bhavanisagar reservoir exceeds 96 feet, the low-level bridge — constructed at a height of 20 feet — gets submerged.Locals say the bridge remains marooned for four to six months each year, during which they rely on coracles to cross the river. Though a high-level bridge is being constructed at a cost of Rs 15 crore, the work has been progressing at a snail’s pace, with only about 75% completed so far.An official in the Sirumugai town panchayat said, “Following a request from the panchayat, the district administration arranged for a motorboat. The public, including school and college students, can use it free of cost.”
