Kozhikode-Wayanad twin tunnel is on. Will cut travel distance by 30 km

The Kerala government will not back out of the Kozhikode-Wayanad twin tunnel project, which will cut off travel distance between the two districts by a whopping 30 kilometres, the State legislative assembly was told on Friday.

The 6.8 km tunnel connects a relatively developed Kozhikode district with the neighbouring hilly Wayanad district that saw massive landslides claiming at least 224 lives in the early hours of July 30.

Responding to a submission made by Linto Joseph, MLA, in the legislative assembly, minister R. Bindu stated that there was no question of abandoning the Wayanad tunnel project.

The state government is going ahead with it, she stated. The tender process for the project is in its final stage.

The construction contract has been awarded to Dileep Buildcon, a Bhopal-based company, for Rs 1,341 crore out of 13 companies that submitted tenders.

The government clarified that the tunnel highway was tendered in two packages. The minister noted that 90 percent of the land required for the project has been acquired, in Kozhikode and Wayanad districts.

Tavel distance to be cut by 30 km  

Once the tunnel is completed, it is expected to reduce the Kozhikode-Wayanad travel distance by 30 km.

The road will extend from Marippuzha in Anakkampoyil to the Kalladi Meenakshi bridge in Wayanad.

The construction is overseen by Konkan Railway Corporation and is expected to be completed within four years after the construction starts. 

The first phase has received approval from the Union Ministry of Forest and Environment.

The ministry has also directed that 17.263 hectares of land be afforested as compensation, which will then be notified as a reserve forest.

According to the government, the project will enhance connectivity to Bengaluru and Mysuru, which will help the growth of the industrial sector. However, environmental activists have raised concerns in the wake of the Chooralmala landslides in July.