The long-awaited widening of the Chilavannoor Canal and the associated bridge project in Kochi has progressed as the Revenue Department has approved the necessary land acquisition.
This decision, which follows the expert committee’s report submitted after a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) conducted in July, facilitates the acquisition of 0.22 hectares in the villages of Elamkulam and Poonithura within Kanayannur taluk. This land will be utilized for the construction of the new Chilavannoor bridge and its access road. The bridge is a component of the Integrated Urban Regeneration and Water Transport System (IURWTS) under the Kochi Metro Rail (KMRL).
The state government has already approved a tender amounting to Rs 38.77 crore for the bridge’s construction. The proposed bridge, spanning 90 meters, is anticipated to become a landmark structure and will play a crucial role in alleviating flooding and traffic congestion in the city.
Previously, the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) allocated Rs 32.58 crore for the reconstruction of the Bund Road bridge over the canal, with the project awarded to ULCCS. The new bridge is expected to significantly reduce stagnation and flooding problems in Kochi.
