Three overbridge projects hanging fire in Kochi

Alignment for Vathuruthy bridge faces opposition from Cochin Shipyard which owns land in its vicinity

Uncertainty clouds the long-overdue overbridges at Atlantis, Vaduthala, and Vathuruthy — projects which were mooted two decades ago. Among them, funds were earmarked by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) for the bridges at Atlantis and Vaduthala. Work on Atlantis and Vaduthala overbridges has not begun, although their alignment were finalised. The Vathuruthy bridge, which is crucial in bringing about seamless connectivity from the city to West Kochi, is the most uncertain projects among the lot, with the latest alignment being opposed by Cochin Shipyard which owns land in its vicinity. The Cochin Port Trust and the Navy have approved the alignment. Among the three bridges, which the Kochi-headquartered Roads and Bridges Development Corporation of Kerala (RBDCK) was set to build, the one at Vaduthala is considered the most important, since it holds the key to decongesting the densely-populated northern parts of the city. Its completion is crucial for commuters to get optimal utility of the Pachalam overbridge that the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) built as part of the preparatory work for the Kochi metro.