Kumbalam bridge rectification work ‘stalled’; traffic flow along NH 66 affected

Kochi: Despite mounting public pressure and a history of serious accidents, the rectification of structural failures at Kumbalam bridge along the NH 66 bypass has been progressing at a ‘snail's pace', leaving motorists trapped in acute traffic congestion during peak hours.While National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) initially promised a two-week turnaround, the project has dragged on for over a month with only 10% of the work completed. The approach roads on both sides have sunk due to ‘soil settlement'- a phenomenon where the ground beneath compresses over time. This resulted in sudden height differences where the road meets the bridge structure. The repair was initiated following multiple mishaps, including one involving a passenger on a KSRTC bus. As the vehicle sped over the elevated section, the sudden impact threw him from his seat, resulting in serious head injuries. "The rectification work has been severely delayed. They scraped off the asphalt in nearly half of the portions of the approach road before suspending the works. This resulted in severe congestion during peak hours," said Razeena Salam, Kumbalam panchayat president. Construction materials abandoned on the bridge have further narrowed the section, worsening the bottlenecks during peak hours. While the work is slowly progressing in Aroor-Madavana direction, residents are demanding immediate intervention on the opposite stretch (Madavana-Aroor). "There is an uneven slope issue at the entry point of Madavana-Aroor direction as well. There are chances of mishaps as vehicles speeding past Madavana Junction hit the abrupt transitions," said Rahul T J, a resident. When contacted, a senior NHAI official assured that work would be expedited and completed by the end of the month. Beyond the current patchwork, NHAI proposed a detailed structural study by RITES to find a permanent solution to the perennial settlement issues on the bypass.