Murinjapalam demolition on Wednesday

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After weeks-long impasse over road widening works, the Kerala Road Fund Board finally got the nod for traffic diversion at Murinjapalam, paving way for the demolition of the old bridge. The old bridge will be demolished on Wednesday.According to the police, traffic will be regulated at the Pattom-Medical College route. KSRTC and private buses moving from Palayam to Medical College should take the VJT - Asan Square - Pettah - Kannamoola - Kumarapuram route.Small vehicles going to Medical College from Pattom should either take Plamoodu - Aanadiyil Hospital - Mulavana Junction - Kannamoola - Kumarapuram route or Pottakuzhi - Goureeshapattom - Mulavana Junction - Kannamoola route.They can also take the Chalakuzhi route. Buses plying in Uloor - Medical College - Pattom stretch should take the Medical College - Old Road - G G Hospital - Kumarapuram - Kannamoola - General Hospital via Palayam. Plying of heavy vehicles is not allowed at the Chalakuzhy - Medical College road. Chalakuzhy - Medical College road will be one way from 8 to 11 am and 3 to 7 pm.The traffic police have also requested people to abstain from parking at these areas. As many as 40 traffic wardens have been appointed for the traffic regulations.The KRFB has appointed 30 traffic wardens while TRDCL appointed 10. Trial of traffic regulation was held from Saturday to Tuesday.According to KRFB project engineer P Madhavan Pillai, the demolition of  old bridge will take two week’s time. TRDCL, the concessionaire of City Roads Improvement Project (CRIP), has informed that construction of new bridge at Murinjapalam will be completed in 200 days.“Currently, piling for the construction is in progress. Of the 24, piling of four has been completed. The bridge will be of 19 metre span. There will be 1.5 metre footpath on either sides. The total width of carriageway is 14 metre. Like the old bridge, the new one too will be constructed parallel to the road,” TRDCL project director Anil Kumar Pandala said.Meanwhile, the trial traffic regulation has created chaos in the area for the past three days. However, the traffic department said modifications would be made after the trial run.