Goshree islanders start 25-day countdown to end traffic woes

Goshree islanders have called for a truce and put up a countdown board giving the authorities 25 days, of which two have already passed, to complete the restoration of the bridge parallel to the Goshree second bridge and open it to commuters.

The parallel bridge has remained closed for over 50 days for restoration work, giving commuters to and from the Goshree islands a nightmarish time on the road, with traffic jams sometimes stretching from High Court Junction to Vypeen Goshree Junction during peak hours. Making matters worse are the pothole-ridden first and second Goshree bridges. With no solution in sight to their traffic woes, various organisations, including the Federation of Residents Associations Apex Council in Goshree Islands (FRAG), a collective of around 350 residents’ associations, staged a protest last week, which included playing football on the bridge.

Since then, a meeting of stakeholders has taken a slew of decisions, including completing the restoration of the parallel bridge within 25 days. “The work is progressing at a steady pace now after several days of no activity due to rain. It has also been decided to restrict the movement of container trucks during peak hours, as the trucks competing for space with other vehicles were further slowing traffic. The direct entry of vehicles from Old Bolghatty Road to the main road has been banned. They are now required to take the left and go through the roundabout,” said Anil Plavians, general secretary of FRAG.

The Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) has assigned the task of filling potholes on the first Goshree bridge to the Public Works department, as the agency does not have its own engineering division. The potholes on the second Goshree bridge are likely to be repaired by the contractor engaged by the National Highways Authority of India, along with the restoration work on the parallel bridge.

The Private Bus Operators Association (PBOA) has called off the indefinite strike of around 100 buses operating through the Goshree islands from August 7. “The decision was based on the assurance to complete the restoration of the parallel bridge within 25 days and to repair the Muthakunnam- Edappally highway within 20 days,” said P.K. Lenin, president, PBOA.

As a result of these factors, crossing the three Goshree bridges, which earlier took 5 to 10 minutes, now takes up to an hour or more during peak hours. There is also growing demand for parallel bridges to the remaining two Goshree bridges.