THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: “Kundamankadavu Iron Bridge just caved in,” was a routine hoax message that youngsters around Thirumala used to circulate on every April 1 until it turned lame few years back.
Finally, after decades of red-tapism and weeks long protests on the inordinate delays in inaugurating the completed structure here, a new concrete Kundamankadavu bridge was opened to public by Chief Minister Oomen Chandy who came out of Aruvikkara election worries on Thursday.
The 116-year-old iron bridge was a crucial link that connects the city with densely populated suburbs like Valiyavila, Peyad, Thachottukavu, Malayankeezhu and Kattakada taluk.
The new bridge inaugurated on Thursday is 58 metres long and 10.5 metres wide. The width of carriageway is 7.5 metres and footpaths on either side are 1.5 metres wide.
Though bridge was ready few months back it took time to do eviction and create 150-metre approach roads on either side.
“Last few months, our focus was to improve Karamana-Kaliyikkavila road. We are undertaking a new Vellarada- Thiruvananthapuram road. There are several budgetary constraints that delay road works but we are sourcing in maximum fund from various agencies,” Chief Minister Oomen Chandy said.
Kattakada MLA N Shathan, Vattiyoorkavu MLA K Muraleedharan and Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat President Ansajitha Russel were present.
