File image of Kumbaram toll plaza, Kochi | Photo credit: Vibhu H.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has informed the Ernakulam district collector that it is not possible to temporarily exempt Maradu residents from paying toll at the agency’s toll plaza in Kumbalam.
A meeting chaired by District Collector NSK Umesh on Friday decided to request NHAI to grant a temporary exemption to the residents of Maradu considering that the Kundannoor bridge and the adjacent Alexander Parambithara bridge need to be closed for a month for re-paving.
However, the NHAI project director told the district collector that it was not technically possible to provide such an exemption. The Kundannoor bridge has been closed to traffic since October 15 to allow the public works department (NH wing) to dig out its surface and resurface it using Shimasa asphalt technology.
The bridge connects districts like Maradu and Kundanur to Willingdon Island and West Cochin. With the bridge closed, commuters were forced to cross the toll plaza and reach Nishi Kochi via Eda Kochi.
Published – October 22, 2024 at 06:00 AM (US Standard Time)