Heavy vehicles will no longer be allowed to ply on the 127-year-old Iron Bridge (Irumpu Palam) across the Poorna river in Thripunithura. With concerns over safety looming large and the bridge becoming a subject of discussion in the Thripunithura Municipal Council, it was decided to divert the heavy traffic through the mini bypass that runs parallel to the bridge.
The traffic police began diverting vehicles two days ago. A raised iron bar would be erected on both sides of the bridge to prevent the entry of heavy vehicles, said the Thripunithura traffic police. The conservation of the bridge is in the mind of all, said Municipal Chairperson Chandrika Devi. However, no decision had been taken on how to go about it. Suggestions had come up that the bridge be kept as a whole structure at the Hill Palace Museum as an engineering marvel, she said.
First such bridge
It was the first bridge across the Poorna that provided a royal route for the erstwhile King of Kochi to move out of the town by road.
The bridge will cater to two-wheeler and car traffic while the walkway on both sides will be open for pedestrians.