Wednesday, November 9 2005 18:20 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala cabinet today (Nov 09, 2005) decided to revive the proposal of building an inter-state bridge across the Kabini with Karnataka, following the November 6 boat tragedy at H D Kote and Marakkadavu depot that claimed eight lives.

Chief Minister Ommen Chandy said he planned to meet his Karnataka counterpart Dharam Singh next month to discuss the details of building the bridge, a long-pending demand of the people living on both sides of the river.

The crucial thing required to start the work was the clearance for forest land needed to build the approach road to the bridge on the Karnataka side, he told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

In 1994, the two states had mooted a joint proposal to build the bridge utilising resources from the Central Road Funds. But that failed to materialise due to problems in getting the forestland clerance.

The Kerala Public Works department's estimate was that the construction of the bridge would involve a cost of Rs 8.3 crore. The state would again approach the CRF to revive the project, Chandy said. Meanwhile, the cabinet decided to provide a solatium of Rs 25,000 each to the families of the boat tragedy victims.