The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) and Vadakara-based Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Limited (ULCCS) will on Wednesday ink an agreement for the construction of a new bridge across Korappuzha.
This follows a high-level tender approval committee of the Public Works Department (PWD) approving ULCCS tenders for the ₹27.17-crore project last week. Previously, the society had quoted 9.2% above the estimated rate of ₹24.91 crore. Incidentally, only three companies had qualified for the bid, sources said.
The rival bidders, Ernad Constructions and ABM Constructions, had quoted ₹29.50 crore and ₹33.47 crore respectively. The actual construction work will begin in the second week of December, though preliminary work has already started, K. Vinayaraj, executive engineer, PWD (National Highways), told The Hindu on Monday.
KRFB will source funds through the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB).
The government has already sanctioned money for the purpose last year, and the PWD gave its technical nod this year. The work involves demolishing the 80-year-old bridge of the erstwhile British era and constructing a new one spanning Korappuzha. The contract will be for 18 months.
Mr. Vinayaraj said the proposal was to construct the bridge with bowstring arch girder with Macalloy suspension. It will have a pile foundation, and its vertical clearance level from the water will be improved by eight feet. Unlike before, the bridge will be constructed with footpaths.
The existing 224-metre structure will be demolished using state-of-the-art technology without disturbing the flora and fauna of the river.
However, vehicular traffic will be diverted through the Koyilandy-Vadakara old National Highway 66 once construction activities begin. Vehicles will be diverted via Pavangad, or they can use the Kozhikode bypass connecting Vengalam to Ramanattukara to reach the other side, Mr. Vinayaraj said.
