KIIFB clears ₹236-cr for Bharathappuzha-Ponnani Bridge

Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) has sanctioned ₹236 crore for a bridge project - part of the proposed coastal highway connecting Thiruvananthapuram with Kasargod. The 400-m suspension bridge is the first of its kind in the state and will be modeled on the Howrah suspension bridge of Kolkata. Its four-lanes will come up across the estuary where Bharathappuzha and Ponnani river converge with the Arabian sea. L&T Infrastructure has prepared a detailed project report for the bridge. As per the design, the 4.8 km long bridge will start from MES College premises and 800 metres away from Padinharekkara. Of the four-lanes, two will be used for vehicle traffic and two for cycle tracks and viewpoints. The project is being jointly implemented by Harbour, Fisheries, PWD and National Highway departments. The State is deputing 'metro man' E Sreedharan as chief coordinator of the project.