Kochchikade: Far from the great expectations the new bridge held
Kochchikade, the gateway to Colombo from the northern parts of the country, is a bustling city with rickety old road networks, the upgrading of which has not drawn the attention of the authorities.
In 2019, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe declared open the new 105-metre-long bridge built across the Maha Oya, a perennial river, adding attraction to both foreigners and locals. (The Sunday Times, March 24, 2019). This 4-lane bridge, costing $651 million and funded by the Australian Government, replaced the 83-year-old bridge over Maha Oya. But all the great expectations the new bridge held for a promising city were like a bridal dress still to be worn by the bride. The condition of the main road is deteriorating day by day.
Vehicles going to and from Colombo are forced to slow down for about about 200–300 metres (from the newly built bridge towards Kochchikade town) on the still unlevelled Colombo-Chilaw Road with pot holes and bumps.
Pedestrian and vehicle safety is compromised when turning right just before the new bridge, as no traffic lights have been fixed yet. The same is true at the pedestrian crossings near the Kochchikade temple and the Catholic Church.
The road turning right at the People’s Bank branch, between the Holy Spirit Church and the grotto, also has death traps with its concrete layer one foot above the earlier road. Road users say these kerbs are not only a danger to motorcyclists but also to pedestrians. Residents say many motorcyclists injur themselves at night as they hit concrete kerbs.
Making it worse are the uncleaned drains, especially near the three-wheel park just opposite the People’s Bank and the pharmacy. Not only is it an eyesore and a stinking mess, but also a breeding ground for mosquitoes, with empty beer cans, coffee cups, and empty bottles.
Another serious shortcoming of the area is that office workers using the train service complain that they have no place to park their motorcycles as the earlier parking place is closed for unknown reasons. So commuters park their motorcycles and bicycles along the path to the station, though parking is prohibited on this stretch.