KOCHI:The Malayattoor-Kodanad bridge, which links the pilgrimage and tourist destinations of the district, was dedicated to the public. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy officially inaugurated the bridge the other day. The new bridge, which will help in easing out the traffic congestion along MC Road and Kalady to a great extent was completed under the 100 bridges in 400 days plan under Mission 676 project of the state government.
The bridge with a length of 253-metre and width of 11 metre was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 14 crore. The construction work was launched in December 2010 during the tenure of LDF government, which gave immediate sanction for the project proposal. This is also the second major bridge to be constructed across the Periyar in the last 50 years.
In his inaugural address, the CM said that the government will soon begin the construction of the new bridge, parallel to the existing Kalady Bridge soon. “The work of the new bridge, which will play a major role in the infrastructure development of Nedumbassery International Airport was delayed due to the arguments over the alignment,” he said.
However, the new alignment has been finalised that will connect the bridge with the Mattoor Bypass Road. The cost of the project has undergone a steep escalation and is now estimated at Rs 70 crore.
The fund allocated for the Public Works Department (PWD) in the present budget is Rs 300 to Rs 400 crore. “But the projects that are already under execution altogether has an estimated cost of Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 crore. We are confident of overcoming the shortage of funds by following Annuity scheme, BOT (build-operate-transfer) and PPP (pubilc-private-partnership) modes,” he added.
Other major projects that have been already launched in the area include modernisation of Kalady-Malayattoor, Vallam-Kurichilakkodu, and Kuruppamppady-Kurichilakodu Roads which will have links to the newly opened bridge. After ensuring proper connectivity, the government is planning to implement the Kalady-Malayattoor-Athirappilly tourism circuit proposed by the Department of Tourism.