KOCHI: The fate of the old Thoppumpady bridge will be decided soon. The final decision regarding the recognition of the bridge as a heritage structure will be made at a high-level meeting to be held at the Ernakulam Guest House on June 9. The meeting will be attended by Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas, Public Works Minister V K Ebrahim Kunju, Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) chairman N Venugopal, Mayor Tony Chammany, MLAs Hibi Eden and Dominic Presentation and the officials concerned. “The final decision on the renovation and post-renovation use of the bridge will be made at the meeting. The procedures and funding for the renovation will depend on whether the bridge will be recognised as a heritage monument or not,” said Minister K V Thomas, who had demanded the status for the bridge in the first place.Although the bridge has been completely closed to traffic, there is a section of people that wants two-wheelers and three-wheelers to move along the bridge. “In that case, the bridge could not be given the status of a heritage structure. It would also need regular maintenance and we need to address the issue of funds. As of now the GCDA has shown an interest in the matter. In case the bridge gets the heritage monument status, the initial renovation cost and subsequent maintenance cost will be borne by the government,” he told ‘City Express’.The 73-year-old bridge is the oldest steel bridge as well as lift-span bridge in the country. Following concern over the condition of the bridge, all vehicles except two and three wheelers were prohibited from using the bridge. Currently, even these have been barred.NO TOLLGCDA chairman N Venugopal said he had already spoken about the issue to the District Collector as well as the state government. “Although the GCDA has nothing to do with the bridge, we would like to take up the challenge of renovating it. If the decisions taken during the June 9 meeting are in our favour, we would renovate the bridge, open it for two-wheeler and three-wheeler traffic during the day time and for pedestrians during night time,” he said. He said there would not be any toll for using the bridge after renovation.
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