Toll booth building at Varapuzha to be removed

Kochi: In the wake of rising mishaps, the Public Works Department (NH Wing) has initiated a slew of safety measures at the stretch including Varapuzha bridge where four lives were lost in a major accident recently. The toll booth buildings lying unused for the past several months at one end of the Varappuzha bridge will be removed and resurfacing works will be carried out on one span of the bridge on a war-footing.

“The toll booths are lying unused since October last with the state government deciding to stop toll collection. The buildings and the road medians connecting them effectively divide the two-lane road into four passages, often catching unsuspecting drivers unawares while exiting the bridge. Hence the same will be razed down,” said C.J. Nalini, Executive Engineer, PWD-NH, Kodungallur. Also, the resurfacing of a span of the bridge will be done at the earliest.

Earlier a study by the NATPAC team soon after the mishap on January 2 had found that weathering of the pavement due to high traffic volume had made the bridge section smooth, thereby increasing risk of vehicles getting skidded off the lane easily. “We’re yet to get the NATPAC report. Once we get the same, a request will be submitted to the Road Safety Authority to allot funds for implementing the safety measures without delay,” the official said. Meanwhile, the authorities will submit a proposal before the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways on widening of the narrow Varapuzha-Muttakunnam stretch soon.