A bridge that saved on time, money

Minister for Public Works inaugurates State’s first corrugated steel arch bridge

The GCDA's arch bridge at Gandhinagar opens a new corridor for commutersto the eastern entry of Ernakulam Junction railway station. Photo: Vipin Chandran

Greater Cochin Development Authority’s (GCDA) approach to development and its innovative schemes came in for much praise as the first corrugated steel arch bridge in the State was inaugurated here on Saturday.

In his inaugural address, Minister for Public Works V.K. Ebrahim Kunju said the GCDA’s novel approach to development augurs well for the greater Kochi area. He also planted a tree sapling near the new bridge.

In his presidential address, Hibi Eden, MLA, whose asset development fund worth Rs. 1 crore was used for the project said the bridge would open a new corridor for commuters to the eastern entry of Ernakulam Junction railway station. Additional GCDA funds were used for relocating a transformer and to build an approach road.

The 14-metre-long, eight-metre-wide bridge will replace the small culvert that existed here.

The bridge was built in a short span of time and cost approximately Rs. 1 crore whereas a conventional bridge would have cost Rs. 1.50 crore and taken much more time for construction. The bridge also did away with the culvert’s pillars that impeded free flow of water through the canal beneath.

Corrugated steel arch bridges are stronger than conventional bridges built using girder-and-slab technology since they have more surface area though requirement of materials was much lesser and piling less cumbersome.

Taking the audience through GCDA’s ongoing schemes, its chairman N. Venugopal said the Chilavanoor Bund Road that would link Chambakkara with Thevara would be commissioned as scheduled in December. “This will provide an alternative to the congested SA Road. Work is on to renovate Ambedkar and international stadiums.”

“Opening of the Ambedkar Road on the south end of Panampilly Nagar and commencement of laser show at Rajendra Maidan have received wide applause. All this can be attributed to the deployment of dedicated teams for monitoring and executing the works,” he said.

The GCDA intended to adopt the same technology to rebuild a narrow bridge on Sastha Temple Road near Kaloor if all went well with the Gandhinagar bridge, Mr. Venugopal said. He lauded the role played by former general manager of Kerala State Construction Corporation Yacub Mohan George who suggested adoption of Korean technology for the bridge.