Parallel bridge to be opened on June 5

TRIUNITHURA: This is a dream come true for the people of Tripunithura. At last the new bridge parallel to the existing age-old Iron Bridge will be opened to the public on June 5.It will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in the presence of Excise Minister K Babu and PWD Minister Ibrahim Kunju.With the official opening of the bridge, Tripunithura will be linked to Gandhi Square, which is just a few yards away from Kundanoor Junction. This will reduce the traffic congestion through the narrow stretch of road between Pettah and North Fort Gate. Vehicles coming from Ernakulam can take a deviation from Pettah to Gandhi Square from where they can enter the road to Kottayam without touching the congested Tripunithura town. Similarly, vehicles coming from Kottayam can take a deviation from Kannankulangara to the new bridge and can enter the Gandhi Square from where they can go to Alappuzha or Ernakulam.The PWD is planning to operate the new bridge with a toll booth on its eastern end. However, as most of the private vehicles will opt for the easiest way to Kottayam the new bridge will certainly be a great relief for the people of Tripunithura to get rid of their decade-long traffic problems. The people have been longing for the completion of the proposed Tripunithura bypass which may certainly be a gateway to the development of not only this town but also Kochi. Two mega projects, Kochi — Madurai National Highway and Sea Port-Air Port road — have been left half way through due to the absence of the proposed Tripunithura bypass.Now both the Kochi Madurai Highway and Sea Port-Airport Road have reached a dead lock at Karingachira Junction. With the opening of the bridge, only a small stretch remains between Karingachira and Tripunithura, which can serve the purpose of the proposed Tripunithura Bypass. If the authorities redesign the existing proposal of Tripunithura bypass, then the decade-long dream of Kochi-Madurai Highway (NH 49) and Sea Port-Air Port Road will also become a reality.This bridge was proposed by K Babu when he was MLA. Like his other dream projects, including a full-fledged campus for RLV College and multi-storyed building for the Government Ayurveda College, Babu could fulfill this dream project.