Islanders Demand Urgent Construction of Parallel Bridges

Swift Summary

• Traffic congestion remains severe along the Goshree bridges in Kerala, with only 12 days left in the 25-day restoration timeline for opening a parallel bridge to the second Goshree bridge.
• An all-party delegation, coordinated by FRAG (Federation of Residents Associations Apex Council), plans to meet Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to propose building parallel bridges to the first and third Goshree bridges urgently.
• Local leaders from multiple municipalities discussed this issue in a meeting on Saturday organized by FRAG. Industries Minister P. Rajeeve and Vypeen MLA K.N. Unnikrishnan are expected to join efforts.
• Funds have been allocated, and land has been acquired for constructing two proposed parallel bridges, according to Anil Plavians of FRAG.
• Islanders have faced traffic troubles for over two months due to pothole-ridden roads on the existing first and second Goshree bridges.
• Container traffic was partially restricted during peak hours but continues causing bottlenecks when containers get stuck at bridges or terminals, frequently enough leading to hour-long delays.
• FRAG has threatened protests, including blocking container movements and laying siege to toll plazas if promises aren’t fulfilled within the agreed timeline.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The persistent traffic issues along Kerala’s Goshree bridges underscore long-term infrastructure challenges within highly critical urban connectors. Although funds and land have already been earmarked for additional parallel structures, delays in implementation exacerbate logistical inefficiencies while impacting daily lives of residents. Coordinated efforts led by community representatives highlight public concern’s central role in effecting policy decisions but also stress urgency as key stakeholders remain pressed under time constraints.Resolving these bottlenecks is not merely an immediate need; it also pertains closely with broader state goals for economic growth involving smooth freight corridors ensuring container movement efficiency aligned alongside citizen-centric policies highlighting user commute fairness stability simultaneously amplifying its strategic challenge.Read more at: The Hindu