Infrastructure projects are often hailed as symbols of progress, but for locals and thousands of motorists, the Thadikkakadavu-Aduvassery bridge serves as a haunting reminder of what they call 'engineering negligence.' The bridge connects western areas like Alangad and Varapuzha to the airport and National Highway 544.
Crater-Like Depression Appears on Bridge Surface
The concrete surface at the middle of the bridge, which links Karumalloor and Kunnukara panchayats, has come off, exposing steel reinforcement bars and forming a crater-like depression. According to locals, this 'structural failure' occurred due to the contractor's negligence.
'Concrete at the middle portion of the bridge has come off and a crater, having a depth of nearly 30cm, has formed. The bridge's structural strength is deteriorating with each passing day,' said M A Sudheer, a local resident and Congress block vice-president.
History of Negligence During Construction
During the construction of the bridge a decade ago, two concrete slabs gave way and fell into the Periyar river. A heavy-duty crane was brought in to retrieve the sunken segments. In a move that local observers and engineering experts later decried as sheer negligence, the crane was positioned directly on the bridge structure without any precautionary load-distribution measures.
'The crane was deployed four times, the latest being last year. It was positioned at the central portion, without taking precautionary measures like placing wooden pieces below. Now a crater has formed at the exact location. Structural damage is becoming worse each passing day. We demand authorities fix the issue on a war footing,' Sudheer pointed out.
Residents and motorists are now calling for immediate intervention from the authorities to prevent any potential disaster. The bridge, which sees heavy traffic daily, remains a critical link for the region, and the deteriorating condition has sparked widespread concern.
