The state highways department has floated a tender to construct a high-level bridge across Cauvery river connecting the Trichy mainland with Srirangam island. The state government has allocated Rs 1.06 billion for the bridge including compensation for land acquisition to develop approach roads. The four-lane bridge, which is likely to be 540 metres in length, will connect Melachinthamani (Trichy end) and Mambalasaalai (Srirangam end). It would come on the upstream side (west) of the river. Of the total fund allocated under the Comprehensive Road Infrastructure Development Programme (CRIDP), Rs 240 million has been reserved to pay compensation for private and government land to be acquired.