Thuravoor-Thaikkattussery Bridge to be Opened Today.

The first phase of the Thuravoor-Pampa state highway, the Thuravoor- Thaikkattussery bridge will be inaugurated today by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. Public Works Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju will preside over the function. Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, K C Venugopal MP and MLAs will participate in the function.

Chandy laid the foundation stone for the bridge on February 3, 2013. The 356-metre-long and 11-metre wide bridge was constructed with a cost of Rs. 49.05 crore across the Oulaveppu kayal in Vembanad Lake, with footpaths on both sides. Approach roads are also constructed at both ends. In Valamangalam, a 540-metre road was constructed with a width of 40 metre and in Thaikkattussery, 240-metrelong road is constructed with a width of 25 metre.

The Revenue Department acquired about 4.5-acre land for the approach road in Valamangalam and 1.5 acre in Thaikkattussery. The department distributed Rs. 2.75 crore for land acquisition. Painting and other works of the bridge are nearing completion. Street lights will be installed by the KSEB and preliminary works in connection with this have started, said PWD officials. The road was proposed in the 2011-12 budget as a gateway to Ernakulam and Vallarpadom Container terminals from Kottayam and Idukki. Rs. 151 crore was earmarked in the budget and two bridges were also proposed.

One, Thuravoor- Thaikattussery and the other Nerekadav- Makkekadav. The proposed plan for the Nerekadav- Makkekadav bridge was given the thumbs-up by the government a few months ago. Land acquisition work for the bridge is almost complete, said PWD officials. ` 10 crore was also allotted for road development from Pallithodu in Thuravoor to Nerekadav. The road will merge with the National Highway 66 (formerly it was NH 47) at Thuravoor. The road will open a new route for Sabarimala pilgrims. The construction of the bridge was delayed due to the collapse of a girder in February 2014 which incurred a heavy loss of more.


THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS