Aluva: The Aluva Marthanda Varma bridge was dedicated to Aluva on June 14, 1940. And the bridge has turned 80 years old today. Even after eight decades, the bridge stands strong across the Periyar river in Aluva.
The Marthanda Varma Bridge across the Periyar connects Malabar and Travancore. The bridge was built on the instructions of the then king of Travancore, Marthanda Varma. The bridge was built by JB Gammon & Company under the supervision of British engineer GBS Truscott and MS Duraiswamy.
It had costed around 8 lakh rupees to construct the bridge. The best techniques of the time were used for construction work. In order to balance the weight, springs imported from Italy were filled in concrete boxes and was laid underneath the bridge.
Marthanda Varma Bridge is the first arch bridge in Thirukochi. The bridge is 5 meters wide and 141 meters long. As the traffic increased, another bridge of the same type was built in parallel to the existing bridge.
