While one of the three bridges — linking Bolghatty 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.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU
Twenty-two years after the trio of Goshree bridges were commissioned, demands have intensified for the construction of parallel bridges to the two congested two-lane bridges, in view of the expected manifold increase in vehicular traffic after the Munambam–Azhikode bridge linking Thrissur and Ernakulam is commissioned later this year.
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. Vypeen recalled how Majnu Komath, former chairman of the NGO who died a week ago, had led a three-decade-long agitation to realise the trio of Goshree bridges. “Over the past two decades, he made sustained efforts to apprise the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) and the State government of the need for parallel bridges to decongest the two narrow bridges. It would be a fitting tribute to the activist lawyer. On my part, I approached the court seeking the speedy construction of the first bridge from the city, crossing which has become a harrowing experience for commuters. GIDA must use its funds to build the first parallel bridge, while stakeholders of the LNG terminal, the Vallarpadam container transhipment terminal, and the convention centre should construct the parallel bridge linking Vallarpadam and Vypeen,” he said.
Traffic gridlocks on the Vypeen–High Court Junction corridor are likely to worsen once vehicles from Thrissur begin entering Kochi city after the Munambam–Azhikode bridge is commissioned later this year, said Anil Plavians, general secretary of the Federation of Residents Associations’ Apex Council in the Goshree Islands (FRAG).
He said the council had repeatedly raised the demand for parallel bridges with people’s representatives in the islands and had submitted memoranda to the Minister for Public Works and the Chief Minister. “With the parallel bridges yet to be taken up, FRAG office-bearers will personally meet the Chief Minister to seek the allocation of adequate funds in the forthcoming State Budget,” he said.
Mr. Plavians added that GIDA had already acquired land for the two proposed parallel bridges and that only the structures remained to be built.
Published – January 19, 2026 01:12 am IST
