Municipality urges govt. to address issues in design of bridge

The Maradu municipality council has passed a resolution urging the government to address the reported shortcomings in the design of the Valanthakad bridge connecting the islanders to the mainland. The resolution pointed out that acquiring around 60 metres of land on both sides for the bridge’s landing was challenging and could further increase the project cost. Various hurdles, including delays in sanctioning funds and clearing bills for the contractor, had stalled construction, which began in 2019. The council said additional funds would be needed for land acquisition, landing construction, and final works.