KOCHI: As pressure mounts for constructing a widened Pettah bridge, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation ( DMRC ) said they will complete the works of Chambakkara bridge by 2020 . The four-lane bridge is part of the Metro project from Thykoodam to Pettah.The Metro authority said the construction of the first segment, which consists of two lanes of the bridge, on the left side of Vyttila–Pettah road was progressing. The construction of the second segment, with the remaining two lanes of the bridge, will be simultaneously undertaken while executing Metro works. The Kochi Metro’s pillars will come up between the two segments of Champakkara bridge. “We followed the same pattern while executing the works of Edappally flyover and North ROB,” a DMRC official said. He also said the new Chambakkara bridge will not have expansion joints, and the design was almost similar to the Aluva bridge.The Chambakkara bridge is 310m long and has a width of 8.5m. The project is being implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 33.66 crore. The existing bridge will be demolished once the first segment of the new structure is ready . Vehicles will be diverted through it. “Then we will pull the existing bridge and start Metro works and the works for the remaining two lanes,” said the official.The Metro authority also said while launching widening and reconstruction works of Pettah bridge, it is possible to ensure traffic movement. The DMRC official said in all probability a four-lane bridge will come up in the place of the existing bridge. While it is possible to undertake construction works on the leftside (while travelling from Pettah to SN Junction) of the existing bridge, it will be almost impossible to undertake works on the right-side of the existing bridge due to the presence of oil pipes.

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