KOCHI: A long-pending demand of the people of West Kochi, especially those in Edakochi region, is fast becoming a reality. Offering a great relief to the local people, the construction of Willingdon Island- Kannangad bridge is in progress.
The 652- metre-long bridge, parallel to the existing Mattanchery bridge, with one end in south of Willingdon Island and other at Kannangad, near Edakochi, will provide an easy access to the city from NH 47 at Aroor. The scheduled time of completion of the work is October 2016.
A bridge connecting Willingdon Island to Edakochi was a long-felt need of the people of Edakochi. The government showed the green signal to the project after receiving several representations from individuals and organisations in the region.
While the Mattancherry bridge connects Willingdon Island to Thoppumpady, the new bridge will link the Island to Kannangad, near Edakochi, and from there to the National Highway at Aroor.
Once the bridge is opened to traffic, distance from the city to Aroor will fall by 12 kilometres as motorists need not touch Thoppumpady and Palluruthy. At present, vehicles coming to Kochi from the southern part of the state have to travel 10.5 kilometres on Bypass and 11.5 kilometres via Thoppumpady to reach the city.
The approach road to the bridge from Island begins right in front of the entrance of the upcoming Kochi campus of Indian Maritime University.
“The bridge is being constructed by the Bridges Division of the Public Works Department. The project cost is Rs 54 crore. It will provide easy access to Cochin Port and Shipyard from NH 47 at Aroor, consequently reducing the traffic on the stretch of NH from Aroor to Vyttila,’’ said PWD officials associated with the project.
It is expected that the road will also solve the sedimentation of ‘ekkel’ along the banks of Kochi backwaters.