Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road Project Work To Begin In August; Here’s All You Need To Know About It

Good news for commuters travelling between Wayanad and Kozhikode districts in Kerala! The wait for an alternative to the traffic-prone Thamarassery Ghat Road (NH 766) is nearing its end. The prestigious Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road project, a twin-tunnel marvel spanning 8.17 kilometres, is set to begin construction within two months.

Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road Nearly Complete

For nearly a decade, the existing route via Thamarassery Ghat has been a source of frustration for travellers. The scenic mountain pass, while undeniably picturesque, suffers from heavy traffic congestion, leading to hours-long delays along the 9-kilometre stretch. The new tunnel road project promises to bypass this bottleneck entirely, offering a faster and more reliable connection between the two districts.

Land acquisition, a crucial hurdle in infrastructure projects, is nearing completion on both sides. In Kozhikode, nearly 9.3 hectares of the required 11.16 hectares have already been acquired and handed over to the Public Works Department (PWD) on June 6. The process for acquiring the remaining 1.85 hectares is underway. Wayanad has already completed land acquisition, with the entire 8.32 hectares handed over to the PWD on May 31.

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Expected To Be Finalised By June End

The Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road project is hurtling towards construction with key steps underway. While environmental clearance is still pending, the project hasn’t slowed down. The Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is locked in and ₹3.8 crore has been fast-tracked to the state government’s Compensatory Afforestation Fund. To offset the environmental impact, an equivalent area of private land has already been secured.

The project is moving full steam ahead on the funding front too. The entire cost of ₹2,149 crore is secured under the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) scheme. Contracts are expected to be finalised by the end of June.

Adding another brick to the road, a separate ₹108 crore has been sanctioned for the construction of a vital 17.5-kilometre approach road from Thiruvambadi to Marippuzha. This crucial piece of the project has been awarded to the Uralungal Labour Contract Society, a well-known worker cooperative in Kerala.

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The project holds significant importance for the state government. Listed among the 30 key projects of the LDF government, the Chief Minister himself directly monitors its progress every three months. The long-awaited Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road project is finally breaking ground, offering a welcome escape from the hours spent crawling through the congested Thamarassery Ghat Road. With land acquisition nearly complete and other processes moving swiftly, the project is poised to become a reality.

Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons