Kushalnagar: The State Government has rejected the proposal of repairing the hanging bridge located at Abbey Falls in Madikeri due to safety concerns. 

Very different from other hanging bridges of Kodagu is the one at Abbey Falls. While the other hanging bridges in the hilly district are built for people to cross from one river bank to other, this hanging bridge has been built for tourists to see the scenic beauty of cascading water at Abbey Falls and capture the beauty in their cameras. 

The hanging bridge was also built for the safety of tourists so that they will not venture into the gushing waters as it is very dangerous. During full flow after copious rain, the cascading waterfall is exceptionally beautiful with droplets covering the entire area forming a thick mist. 

Abbey Falls is situated amid coffee estates on the outskirts of the town. The Falls, located around eight kilometres from Madikeri town, attracts many tourists every day from far and wide. It is in the midst of the coffee estate of Neravanda Nanaiah. Though Abbey Falls is in a private property, as it is a tourist spot, it is governed by local Panchayat. 

History says that during the British rule, officers serving in Kodagu (then Coorg) were enchanted by the beauty of the Falls and one of the officers had named it Jessie Falls. Jessie was the daughter of the first Christian priest. However, it is famous as Abbey Falls as Abbey or Abbi in Kodava language means a deep river stream. 

Unfortunately, the hanging bridge that has been constructed with a sole purpose of enabling tourists to have a better view of the Falls is in a dilapidated condition and has become dangerous. One slip and the person is destined to fall amidst water and boulders. Though Tourism Department has warned the tourists walking on the bridge by erecting a board nearby, nothing much has been done about the bridge.

Tourism Department sources told Star of Mysore that way back in 2015, engineers had assessed the damage to the bridge and a proposal had been sent to the State Government for the release of funds. The State Government, has, however kept the proposal pending till now and sources said that the proposal to repair the bridge has been rejected.

The Government has rejected the proposal due to safety issues as even if the bridge is repaired or reconstructed with supporting walls, the steep gradient of the place would not support any concrete or iron structure. There is a danger of the concrete structure sliding down and investing money on such a project would be a wasteful expenditure, sources admit. 

The hanging bridge falls under K. Nidugane Gram Panchayat and before it was constructed, over 52 people had lost their lives as they ventured into the water to experience its forceful flow. Seeing the deaths, the State Government barricaded a part of the water falls from where people usually enter the spot. The authorities also constructed the hanging bridge for tourist safety. Now the Government has rejected the proposal of repairing the hanging bridge.