Punnamada bridge work making headway-OxBig News Network

The construction of a bridge connecting the Nehru Trophy Ward in Alappuzha municipality to the mainland (Punnamada) is making progress.

The bridge is being constructed at a cost of ₹57.12 crore. Officials said that piling and construction of pile caps and piers for the bridge were progressing. So far, 34 piles, nine pile caps, and 14 piers have been completed.

Once completed, the bridge will end the travel woes of residents in Nehru Trophy Ward and Naduthuruth in Kainakary grama panchayat.

P.P. Chitharanjan, MLA, said that the bridge would ensure hassle-free travel for 600 families. “At present, people are forced to rely on country boats to transport patients to hospitals, for children to attend school, and for adults to go to work. The construction of the bridge reflects the government’s commitment to the people,” the MLA said.

To avoid disruptions

The bridge is designed to avoid disruptions to water transport, including houseboat operations, on Punnamada Lake, a national waterway. As per the design, the 384.1-metre-long bridge has 25 spans, each 12 metres in length, and a 72.05-metre-long bowstring arch span for water transport. The proposed approach roads on both sides are 110 metres long. A sum of ₹7.99 crore was spent on acquiring land for the construction of the approach roads.

Once materialised, the bridge is expected to significantly boost tourism in the region. It is also part of the proposed Pallathuruthy East bypass road, which aims to provide direct access to the Alappuzha-Changanassery (AC) road from the Thanneermukkom–Alappuzha road without entering Alappuzha town, thereby helping to ease traffic congestion in the town.

The Punnamada bridge was conceived by former Finance Minister and Alappuzha MLA T.M. Thomas Isaac during the first Pinarayi Vijayan government. Though the project received approval from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board in 2019, it faced delays due to changes in alignment and land acquisition issues. After resolving the issues, the project entered the tendering phase in 2022. The bridge is being constructed by the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society.