Aluva’s old Marthanda Varma Bridge will reopen to traffic on November 5 after repairs, while maintenance on the nearby Desam Bridge will continue in phases before its full two-way capacity is restored on November 6, authorities said after a review meeting on Friday.
The reopening decision followed an inspection of work on the historic bridge by Aluva MLA Anwar Sadath, municipality chairperson Saji Jolly, vice-chairperson Fazil Hussain, National Highways Authority of India officials and local authorities. The old Marthanda Varma Bridge has been closed to allow intensive structural repairs.
“The maintenance on the old Marthanda Varma Bridge is progressing swiftly, and it will reopen to the public on the morning of Nov 5. The Desam Bridge repair works are scheduled to be completed, restoring the full two-way operational capacity by Nov 6,” Sadath said.
The repair programme covers critical expansion joints on key arterial bridges along National Highway 544. The works are being undertaken following expert recommendations from IIT Madras on structural safety. The authorities did not provide further details in the announcement on the extent of the repairs, the cost of the works or whether additional restrictions would remain after the scheduled reopening.
As maintenance on the old bridge nears completion, work on the Desam Bridge, also known as the Parambayam Bridge, is scheduled to begin on Saturday. The repairs there will be carried out in phases so that single-lane vehicular movement can continue throughout the maintenance period.
The simultaneous bridge works have affected movement through Aluva town and routes leading towards Kochi airport. Police have introduced targeted traffic diversions to manage congestion, while dedicated towing services for vehicle breakdowns and additional safety marshals have been deployed at key points.
Commuters travelling through the area, particularly those heading to Kochi airport, have been advised to allow additional travel time. Authorities have also recommended using public transport where feasible while the bridge maintenance and traffic-management measures remain in place.
The immediate sequence announced by the authorities is the reopening of the old Marthanda Varma Bridge on the morning of November 5, followed by the planned restoration of full two-way operations on the Desam Bridge on November 6.
