Parliament Question: Kumbalam-Thevara Bridge Project

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3404 ANSWERED ON 07.08.2026 KUMBALAM-THEVARA BRIDGE PROJECT

3404. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:419)न, पोत प(cid:464)रवहन और जलमाग (cid:91) म(cid:287)ं ी

(a) whether the Government is aware that the Kumbalam–Thevara Bridge Project in Kochi, approved and budgeted by the Government of Kerala in 2016, was delayed for nearly ten years due to objections raised by the Inland Waterways Authority of India

(IWAI), if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the Government has examined the reasons for the prolonged delay in issuance of the No Objection Certificate (NOC) by the IWAI despite multiple revisions in the bridge design and alignment, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(c)whether it is a fact that the bridge design was revised six times and the alignment was changed five times to meet the requirements of the IWAI and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government proposes to put in place a time-bound mechanism for grant of NOCs by the IWAI to avoid delays in public infrastructure projects; and

(e) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

(a) and (b) The Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB) on 02.07.2020 intimated about the sanction of the Government of Kerala dated 31.10.2016 for construction of Kumbalam - Thevara Bridge and sought No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). As the request was without General Arrangement Drawings

(GAD), IWAI requested KRFB to apply for NOC as per the prescribed regulations.

KRFB did not submit GAD in compliance to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of Inland Waterways in India) Regulations, 2008 (amended in 2016 & 2022). Instead, KRFB requested IWAI to shift the navigational channel itself, which was not possible. Subsequently, KRFB submitted revised GAD on

25.11.2024 and accordingly, NOC was issued on 23.01.2025.(c) Yes, the bridge design was changed 6 times by KRFB to meet the navigational requirements as per the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of Inland Waterways in India) Regulations, 2008 (amended in 2016 & 2022).

(d) & (e) The online mechanism to process the cases in time-bound manner is already in place through 'NOC Portal For Cross Structures’ available at IWAI website: iwai.gov.in and as per clause 6 (ii) of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (Classification of Inland Waterways in India) Regulations, 2022, the NOC is to be granted within 45 days, provided all requirements are met.

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