Gosree bridges is a system of three bridges that link the mainland side of the city of Kochi to the islands lying to the north of the backwaters. [1] It provides the vital road connectivity to the islands of Bolgatty and Vallarpadam and also links the western island of Vypin to the mainland. The bridges start from the northern end of Marine Drive between High Court and Pachalam.
The bridges were constructed under the supervision of the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA), constituted by the Government of Kerala. The first bridge was opened in December 2003. All three bridges were formally opened on 5 June 2004.
The Goshree bridges project took concrete shape after the formation of the Goshree Islands Development Authority in 1994. The authority decided to reclaim 25 hectares of backwaters, the sale of which would finance the bridges project. The foundation stone was laid on 29 December 2000 and first segment between Ernakulam and Bolgatty was opened on 29 December 2003. The segment between Bolgatty and Vallarpadam was opened on 10 February 2004. The last segment was completed on 17 March 2004 and the entire bridge was formally opened on 5 June. [2] [3]
The bridge is the only means road connectivity to the Bolgatty and Vallarpadam islands. The launching of the International Container Transshipment Terminal was made possible by these bridges. It also provides direct road connectivity to the city for the Vypin island and the suburbs to the northwest, which was relying upon ferry services earlier. Cherian Varkey Construction company was involved in its construction. [4]
Kochi, also known by its former name Cochin, is a major port city along the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea. It is part of the district of Ernakulam in the state of Kerala. The city is also commonly referred to as Ernakulam. As of 2011, the Kochi Municipal Corporation had a population of 677,381 over an area of 94.88 km2, and the larger Kochi urban agglomeration had over 2.1 million inhabitants within an area of 440 km2, making it the largest and the most populous metropolitan area in Kerala. Kochi city is also part of the Greater Cochin development region and is classified as a Tier-II city by the Government of India. The civic body that governs the city is the Kochi Municipal Corporation, which was constituted in the year 1967, and the statutory bodies that oversee its development are the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and the Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA).
Vembanad is the longest lake in India, as well as the largest in the state of Kerala. The lake has an area of 230 square kilometers and a maximum length of 96.5 km.
Vypin is one of the group of islands that form part of the city of Kochi (Cochin), in the Indian state of Kerala. Vypin forms a barrier island which lies between the Arabian Sea in the west and the Cochin backwaters formed by the various distributaries of Periyar river, in the east. The northernmost end of the island lies on the estuary of the Periyar river in Muziris (Kodungallur), and the southernmost end in the mouth of the Cochin Backwaters in Kalamukku near Fort Vypin.
Marine Drive, also known as APJ Abdul Kalam Marg, is a famous promenade in Kochi, India. It is built facing the backwaters, and is a popular hangout for the local populace. Despite its name, no vehicles are allowed on the walkway. Marine Drive is also an economically thriving part of the city of Kochi. With several shopping malls it is as an important centre of shopping activity in Kochi. Major fast food joints, including Marrybrown, DiMark, Coffee Bar are present along the walkway.
Sir Robert Bristow was a British harbour engineer best known for his contributions to the development of the port of Kochi (Cochin) in Kerala, India and is regarded as the architect of modern Kochi port. Bristow recounted his experiences in his book Cochin Saga, which is considered an important source of historiography of Kerala. He is also noted for his initiatives in founding the Lotus Club, the first inter-racial club in Kochi. He was also a member of the Royal Society of Arts.
Kochi is a city in the Indian state of Kerala. Kochi is located in the district of Ernakulam. Old Kochi loosely refers to a group of islands including Willingdon Island, Fort Kochi, Mattancherry and Mundamveli. Today, Kochi includes Ernakulam, old parts of Kochi, Kumbalangi, and outlying islands. For many centuries up to and during the British Raj, the city of Kochi was the seat of the eponymous princely state — the Kingdom of Cochin, which lay between 9.48° and 10.50° latitude and 76.5° and 76.58° E longitude.
Kochi is a major port city in the Indian state of Kerala. The city is widely known as the commercial or economic capital of the state of Kerala.
Vallarpadam is one among the group of islands, that form part of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. It is situated in the Vembanad Lake, locally known as The Kochi Lake and has a population of over 10,000. Vallarpadam is one of the two islands, the other being Willingdon Island, around which the Port of Kochi is situated. The International Container Transshipment Terminal of the port is situated entirely in Vallarpadam island. Vypin island lies on its west side and Mulavukad island lies to its east.
Mulavukad, also known locally as Bolgatty Island, is one of the islands that forms part of the city of Kochi in Kerala, India. It is situated in the Mulavukad Grama Panchayat. Vypin island and Vallarpadam island lie on its west side and Vaduthala lie to its east. Mulavukad is connected to mainland Ernakulam & Vallarpadam by the Goshree bridges and to Container terminal road at north side to connect to Kalamassery and Aluva side. Easy connection to the CBD, Northern and Southern side of Cochin city make the Island unique among other Goshree Islands.
Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) is a public sector undertaking that conducts and regulates the tourism activities in the Indian state of Kerala. The KTDC is headquartered at Thiruvananthapuram and has offices across all the districts of Kerala. The agency also operates hotels, resorts, and tourist rest houses in key locations in the state. Its official slogan is "Official host to God's own country." It is one of the most profitable ventures of the Kerala government.
The National Shrine Basilica of Our Lady of Ransom aka Vallarpadam Basilica located in Vallarpadam, a suburb in Ernakulam, in the city of Kochi, is a minor basilica and a major Christian pilgrimage centre in India. Around 5 million people visit the basilica every year. People from all parts of the world irrespective of caste or creed go to the church to seek the blessings of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, popularly known as "Vallarpadathamma".
Ochanthuruth is one of the villages in Vypin, an island in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is on the southern part of Vypin.
Mattancherry BOT Bridge, also known as Thoppumpady Bridge is a bridge in Kochi, Kerala, India. It connects the Kochi's western mainland to Willingdon Island. The new bridge was constructed in 1998; succeeding the old bridge of the same name, which is now known as the Old Cochin Harbour Bridge, built in 1940. The old bridge, which is a landmark of Kochi is now preserved as a heritage monument and carries only two and three wheelers.
The West Coast Canal or National Waterway No 3 is a 205 km (127 mi) long inland navigational route located in Kerala, India, which runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. It was declared a National Waterway in 1993. In addition to the main stretch, Champakara and Udyogmandal canals are navigable and connect the industrial centers of Kochi to Kochi port Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) under the Ministry of Shipping is coordinating the task for developing, monitoring and administering national waterways. It is the first National Waterway in the country with 24-hour navigation facilities along the entire stretch. It has been extended to Kozhikode by the National Waterways Act, 2016. The National Waterway 3 mainly passes through the previous Thiruvananthapuram–Shoranur canal.
Vembanad Rail Bridge is a rail connecting Edappally and Vallarpadam in Kochi, Kerala. With a total length of 4,620 metres, it is the second longest railway bridge in India. After a period of disuse, freight service was relaunched in January 2020.
Goshree Islands Development Authority (GIDA) was established in 1994. It is one of the two government agencies for the development of Kochi City Region, Kerala along with GCDA which serves entire Cochin Corporation and surrounding municipalities around the region. GIDA's main purpose, as the name suggests to develop the infrastructure facilities of scattered islands in and around the Kochi city. Its area consists of entire Vypin Island, Vallarpadam, Bolgatty-Mulavukad Island, Thanthonnithuruthu, Kadamakkudy and a group of small islands in Vembanad Lake covering an area of 100 km2. with a population of 3.5 Lakhs.
National Highway 966A or NH 966A starts at Kalamassery and ends at Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal in Kochi, Kerala, India. The total length of the highway is 17 km (11 mi) and runs only inside Kochi.
Kochi Water Metro (KWM) is an unfinished ferry transport system serving the Greater Kochi region in Kerala, India. When fully operational, it will connect Kochi’s 10 island communities with the mainland through a fleet of 78 battery-operated electric hybrid boats operating along 38 terminals and 16 routes spanning 76 kilometres. It is integrated with the Kochi Metro and serves as a feeder service to the suburbs along the rivers where transport accessibility is limited.
Mulavukad Grama Panchayat is grama panchayat in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. It is situated in Vypin block panchayat. The major portion of this panchayat is an island with same name. It is situated some kilometres from Vypin island. The boundaries of the Mulvukad Panchayath are Kadamakkudy, Njarakkal Panchayaths in the North, Kochi Corporation in the East and South and Elangunnappuzha Panchayath in the West. This island is situated very near to Kochi city. Bolgatty Palace is a popular tourist attraction in the southern part of the island. This palace was built by Dutch in 1774. Now it is under the control of Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala.
Venduruthy-Vikrant Bridge, also known as Venduruthy Bridge is a bridge in Kochi, Kerala, India. There are two bridges at present; one railway bridge and one road bridge, running parallel to each other, that connects the Ernakulam side of Kochi to the Willingdon Island. The old Venduruthy railway bridge was constructed in 1938 along with two parallel road bridges. The old railway bridge is one of the first bridges in India to be completely constructed from steel. It is a landmark in Kochi with historic significance as it played a major role in the transformation of Kochi into a major port city in India during the British era.