Overview
- Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan conducted the inaugural controlled rock blast at Maripuzha on March 6, marking the start of on-site tunnelling work.
- The 8.73-km twin tunnel will connect Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode with Meppadi in Wayanad as a four-lane, all-weather alternative to the Thamarassery pass, with travel time expected to be cut by half.
- Project delivery is led by the Kerala PWD with financing of Rs 2,134.5 crore from KIIFB, implementation under KRCL as the SPV, and construction by Dilip Buildcon.
- Stage-II environmental clearance from the Union environment ministry permits diversion of 17.26 hectares of forest land under 24 conditions, including compensatory afforestation and planting at least 1,000 saplings per hectare within two years.
- Authorities restricted access to the blast site for safety and broadcast the event live for residents at Muthappanpuzha ALP School, following site preparations such as a temporary bridge, fuel storage, labour camps and crusher units; completion is targeted in about four years.