Garbage choking the canal stretch under the old Vallakadavu bridge in Thiruvananthapuram.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Fluctuating land prices have reportedly delayed the reconstruction of the old Vallakadavu bridge, a landmark structure that serves as a link between the city region and the coast as well as the domestic terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram airport.
In March this year, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal had informed the State Legislative Assembly that the Finance department had cleared a ₹55.5-crore proposal for rebuilding the old bridge.
Almost nine months later, work is yet to start.
At present, the old bridge, spanning the TS Canal, is shut to traffic. Motorists use the temporary bridge built close by. But the latter has only a narrow passage underneath it for the water to flow. Consequently this stretch of the canal is now choked with tonnes of garbage and water weeds.
Antony Raju, MLA, who had originally raised the issue in the Assembly in March, told The Hindu that changes in land prices had delayed the acquisition of land. After the original estimates were cleared, prices had gone up.
“We would need ₹5 crore more for acquiring the land needed for the approach roads on the eastern and western sides of the bridge. The proposal has been sent to the government for clearance,” he said. “Work can be started once the approval is given,” he said.
Though small, the bridge is a vital link in the route to the domestic terminal of the airport, the Beemapally Dargah Shareef and tourist draws such as the Shangumugham beach. This is also the route traditionally taken by the Arattu processions of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple on their way to Shangumugham.
Water weeds clogging the TS Canal towards the north of temporary bridge at Vallakadavu.
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
Meanwhile, removal of the massive quantities of garbage and water weeds from under the two bridges also poses a problem for the authorities. Mr. Raju said he had inspected the area along with the ward councillor and other authorities recently and efforts were on to locate a suitable place to store the garbage once it is removed.
“Once the garbage is removed from the canal, we need to store it safely. The Corporation does not have a suitable location nearby. Once removed, the garbage cannot be stored in the open due to the proximity to the airport,” he said, referring to the possibility that it could attract birds, posing a threat to aircraft.
Efforts have been taken for rebuilding the bridge, part of the National Waterway, from 1999 onwards.
Published – November 16, 2025 08:34 pm IST
