New Vallakadavu bridge linking city to its densely populated coastal regions to be a reality soon

Reconstruction of Vallakkadavu bridge connecting Thiruvananthapuram city to airport and coastal areas approved after delays.

The long-delayed reconstruction of the old Vallakkadavu bridge, a vital link connecting the city with its densely populated and heavily urbanised coastal localities and the busy domestic terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport, might soon become a reality. 

Thiruvananthapuram legislator Antony Raju, leader of the Democratic Kerala Congress, a Left Democratic Front (LDF) ally, said the government had sanctioned ₹55.5 crore for the project.

The old bridge, spanning the TS Canal, was closed to traffic in 2022 after it was declared to be structurally weak. Currently, motorists use a temporary bridge built a few metres north of the old structure.

Delays have plagued the reconstruction project, although multiple administrative sanctions have been issued by the government over time.

The old bridge is a vital part of the route to the domestic airport, the Beemapally Dargah Shareef, tourist attractions such as the Shangumughom beach, and several Food Corporation of India godowns. It also has a heritage value and a role in the history of erstwhile Travancore as it is the traditional route of the iconic Arattu procession from the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple to reach the Shanghumughom beach by crossing the tarmac of the Thiruvananthapuram international airport. 

According to Antony Raju, administrative sanctions for the bridge’s reconstruction were granted from 1999 onwards. However, since the bridge spanned a canal that was part of the National Waterway, its designs had to be modified. In May 2023, the government issued a new administrative sanction—this time for ₹39.8 crore. Nevertheless, fluctuations in the price of bitumen necessitated a re-estimation of costs. 

Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal informed the State Legislative Assembly earlier this week that his department has cleared a proposal to rebuild the bridge at an estimated cost of ₹55.5 crore.