The proposed Rs. 60.40-crore Kannenghat-Willingdon Island bridge will be built in 20 months’ time. The bridge is expected to lessen the distance between Aroor and the island from 12 km to 6 km.
Motorists from Aroor and southern districts will also be able to skip the narrow and busy Thoppumpady Junction and Mattancherry BOT bridge on NH 47 by using the bridge which will link Kannenghat in Edakochi with the stretch in front of Maritime University in the island.
Speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of the bridge, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy sought the completion of the bridge in 18 months’ time. The initial timeframe for constructing the 622-metre-long, two-lane bridge was two years. Heeding to Mr. Chandy’s request, the contractor shortlisted by the Kerala State Construction Corporation (KSCC) has agreed to complete the structure in 20 months.
Mr. Chandy said a slew of road and bridge projects were under way in different parts of the State. Their total estimate would be 10 times the budgetary allocation since funds are being raised from different sources.
In his presidential address, Minister for Excise and Ports K. Babu, in whose constituency Kannenghat falls, said piling for the bridge would begin on Tuesday. He sought all-round cooperation from the public to ensure prompt completion of the project. “The Mattancherry BOT bridge will not be able to cater to the growing number of vehicles. The new bridge will lessen dependence on the BOT bridge.”
He lauded the Cochin Port Trust for handing over 30 cents of land for the bridge. Chairman of the port Paul Antony handed over a letter of consent on handing over the land. Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju said infrastructure projects should be completed in a time-bound manner.
The bridge is being built as part of the State government’s ‘Mission 676’. The structure has thirteen 37-metre spans and three 47-metre spans which have 7-metre vertical clearance as mandated by inland water transport norms. Approach roads too will be built on either side of the bridge. The new approach road being built on Kannenghat side will be 20 m to 30 m wide.
