Clamour for two parallel bridges to Goshree Islands gets louder

Key Highlights

• The widening of the coastal highway passing through the densely populated Goshree Islands is also expected to add to the influx of vehicles into Kochi city.
• As a result, NGOs, residents’ associations, bus operators and other stakeholders have stepped up their demand for parallel bridges to the narrow Goshree bridges.
• While one of the three bridges — linking Bolgatty Island and Vallarpadam — was widened to four lanes over a decade ago through the construction of a parallel bridge, acute traffic snarls have become routine on the other two narrow bridges, said Johny Vypeen, convener of the Vypeen Janakeeya Kootayma, an NGO.
• He said the congestion often stretches up to the High Court Junction on weekends and during mega events at a convention centre on Bolgatty Island, as the government has not sanctioned funds to widen the first Goshree bridge connecting the city with Bolgatty.
• Mr.