KOCHI: Renovation work began last week on the historic Harbour Bridge (old Thoppumpady Bridge), which had been put on hold due to a tussle between various agencies and due to the rare timber, ‘Thambakam’, not being available.

The Public Works Department (PWD) is carrying out the work by regulating traffic through the bridge.

“Repairs, at an estimated cost of `54 lakhs, were started on December 8. The Forest Department has provided the required quantity of Thambakam for the works.

The renovation is expected to be completed in two months,” said P.P. Benny, engineer, PWD (bridges).

The Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) and PWD were at loggerheads over repairing of the bridge.

Though the GCDA wanted the bridge to be handed over to it for repairing, the PWD Minister refused to surrender the structure.

The bridge, commissioned in 1939, was owned by the Cochin Port Trust. But the PWD took it over later.

After the opening of the Mattancherry BOT bridge, traffic along the old bridge was restricted and only light motor vehicles were allowed.

Meanwhile, the Mattancherry BOT Bridge has been witnessing heavy traffic after the Harbour Bridge was closed for repairs.

“Since cars, three-wheelers and two-wheelers are now using the BOT Bridge, there is severe traffic congestion on the stretch.

To ease this, the entry of container trucks has been banned from 5.30 pm to 8 pm,” said N. Venugopal, chairman of GCDA, which owns the BOT Bridge.