Kundannoor bridge in dilapidated state despite frequent repair works

Kundannoor bridge in Kochi in dilapidated state, demands repairs for safety and connectivity, awaiting funds for resurfacing.

The 2-km-long Kundannoor bridge that links Kundannoor Junction on the national highway (NH) bypass with Willingdon Island is in a dilapidated state, despite frequent repair works.

Maintained by the NH wing of the Public Works department (PWD), the two-lane bridge provides connectivity for passenger/tourist vehicles from West Kochi, apart from container-laden and other lorries from the port.

There is also demand to develop the bottlenecked junction on its western side. The PWD banks on funds provided by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) to repair the bridge and the road/bridge corridors on either side.

Travel through the Kundannoor bridge has been a nightmare for commuters during the past couple of decades, thanks to shoddy repair works done by the PWD (NH wing).

The gaping potholes and undulations that abound are considerably slowing down vehicles while also contributing to fatal and non-fatal accidents, said Antony Asanparambil, chairman, Maradu municipality.

“Two-wheeler riders are particularly at risk since they are often caught unawares by the potholes. Rather than do patch work over potholes, the PWD must scoop out the bitumen surface of the bridge and carry out resurfacing that can withstand frequent movement of goods carriers and other vehicles, a demand that the municipality and commuters have repeatedly taken up with the PWD. No other bridge in Kochi has seen such frequent repair works and is yet in this horrible condition,” he said.

Frequent travellers and tourists have also been demanding installation of lights with higher lumen on the bridge and also on Alexander Parambithara Bridge, a shorter bridge located on its western side. The road that leads beyond up to the Mattancherry BOT bridge is severely ill-lit.