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Dalawapuram-Pallikodi bridge opened to the public

Staff Reporter

VS says bridge is a long-cherished dream of Kollam

PATH TO DEVELOPMENT: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan unveiling the plaque to open the Dalawapuram-Pallikodi bridge to the public at Chavara, near Kollam, on Saturday.

KOLLAM: Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan on Saturday inaugurated the 507-m-long Dalawapuram-Pallikodi bridge at Chavara, near here. The bridge, across the Ashtamudi Lake, links the island Thekuumbhagam from the Pallikodi point to the mainland at Dalawapuram.

Later addressing a public meeting, Mr. Achuthanandan said the bridge, being inaugurated as part of the first anniversary celebration of the Left Democratic Front Government, turned out to be a dream-come-true for the people of Kollam district.

It reduced the distance from Kollam to Sasthamcotta and Adoor by 15 km, he said. The Chief Minister said the overwhelming presence of the Thekumbhagam residents on the bridge by braving the rain to witness the inauguration itself proved the importance of the bridge for them.

He said the bridge passed above the National Waterway-111, which would be commissioned in a year's time.

``Then huge barges loaded with various consignments will be seen sailing through the Ashtamudi Lake,'' he said.

He said the first phase would be a waterway from Kollam to Kottapuram.

Within two years, the National Waterway-111 would link Majeshwaram to Parasala. The waterway would also be a scenic route for tourists to enjoy Kerala, he said.

He inaugurated a photo exhibition at Pallikodi organised by the Information and Public Relations Department on the achievements of the LDF Government.

In his presidential address, Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran said that following the opening of the bridge, a KSRTC service from Kollam to Bharanikavu via Sasthamcotta through the new bridge would commence from Saturday itself (in fact there was quite a crowd to travel by the inaugural KSRTC service).

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Dalawapuram-Pallikodi bridge opened to the public

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