Construction of bridge connecting Kottayam and Alappuzha sees steady progress

The construction of the Nerekadavu-Makkekadavu bridge over the Vembanad lake, connecting Kottayam and Alappuzha districts, is making progress.

According to Public Works department officials, of the total 80 girders, construction of 62 girders has been completed. Of the total 22 spans, 15 have been finished. Concreting of 450 m from Makkekadavu to Nerekadavu has also been completed. Measures have also been initiated to construct an approach road on Nerekadavu side, while the one on the Makkekadavu side will be built after all girders are constructed and installed.

Officials said that if things go as planned, they expect the project to be completed by the end of 2025 or early 2026.

Navigation spans

Once completed, the bridge, part of the Thuravoor-Pampa highway, will have a length of 800 m. Of the 22 spans, two are navigation spans in the middle, each 47.16 m long. The bridge will have footpaths on both sides with a width of 1.5 m. Each approach road will be 60 m long.

The construction of the bridge got under way in 2016 with an 18-month completion period. However, the work came to a halt midway due to a delay in acquiring land for the construction of approach roads on both sides. Though the land acquisition was completed in 2022 following a Kerala High Court directive, the construction firm sought to revise the estimate due to cost escalation, resulting in further delay.

Revised estimate

The Finance department approved the revised estimate of the project in 2023. The work then resumed last year. The project is expected to cost around ₹100 crore.

The Thuravoor-Pampa highway passes through Thycattussery, Udayanapuram, Vaikom, Kaduthuruthy, Kuravilangad, Pala, Ponkunnam, and Erumely. It will connect pilgrim centres of the Thuravoor temple, Vaikom, Kaduthuruthy, Ettumanur, and Erumely. Besides, the bridge will connect National Highway 66 at Thuravoor and State Highway 15 at Udayanapuram.