Minister opens Kalady bridge amidst drama

The drama started unfolding before the official opening of the bridge which was to be done by Mr Kunju. A group of BJP workers who accused Mr Kunju of inaction when the bridge got damaged declared the bridge open even before the minister arrived. Heated arguments with police followed their attempt to run vehicles on the bridge before the scheduled arrival of the minister.

Even as this was happening on the one side of the bridge, LDF workers gathered on the other side and they too declared the bridge open. The minister, meanwhile, arrived and he also conducted another inauguration. Jose Thettayil, MLA, was allegedly assaulted by someone when police blocked a march of the LDF workers to the other side of the bridge with black flags meant for the minister.

The PWD which did the repair work used the new technique of ‘cross beam micro concreting’ to avoid development of cracks on the point where the bridge and the approach road joined. The entire road surface over the bridge was also re-laid using spraying machine after removing the old one. Weeds and dirt accumulated on the sides and under the bridge were also removed.

The PWD also filled the potholes from the stretch starting from the bus stand to the bridge and the Kalady junction was paved with inter-locking bricks.

Meanwhile, environmentalists say that the repair done on the Kalady bridge will not be enough to sustain it in a healthy condition. Sand mining in the river ought to be banned and a scientific study should be undertaken to keep the bridge going strong, they said.

“The District Collector should issue orders to declare the one km stretch on both sides of the bridge as a protected area and strict vigil should be mounted to put an end to illegal sand mining in the place. Otherwise, the condition of the bridge will turn from bad to worse and there wouldn’t be any guarantee for its pillars”, said eminent environmentalist Prof S. Seetharaman.

He said the pillars had already gone three to four metres down due to sand mining and the recent damage was caused as they could not balance the weight of the beam. “When huge vehicles pass, it shakes the pillars and flakes come off the beam”, he said. “Unless the basement is made strong, there is no guarantee for its safety. A scientific study should be conducted into the water flow through the area. Sufficient sand sediment should be ensured in the area by crafting big wire meshes.”, said Venu Variyath, writer and environmentalist.