Kottayam: Authorities began dismantling an old railway overbridge (RoB) in the town, after the 64-year-old structure with its striking arch beams on both sides got a replacement close to it.

The RoB at Nagampadam will completely vanish in a month from now, as a modernised version of it was completed adjacent to it. That happened on Saturday when the work of laying asphalt got over, ending a wait of three-and-a-half years.

The grand-looking arch-beams, which came up in 1974, will be lifted as the first step towards breaking it. Authorities have charted out the work in a way that the demolition wouldn’t disrupt the running of the trains below. The old RoB will be lifted and pulled down in phases.

Currently, work is on to lift the RoB slabs, using jacks.

Kottayam in south-central Kerala has four bridges bordering it on as many sides.