Kozhikode-Wayanad Tunnel Road Gets Green Light with 60 Conditions
Thiruvananthapuram: The expert committee under the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change has granted final environmental clearance for the proposed four-lane tunnel road connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts. This approval comes with 60 specific conditions, paving the way for the signing of the contract and commencement of the tunnel road’s construction.
A recommendation for the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project to proceed, subject to adherence to conditions, was submitted to the Ministry of Environment’s meeting held on May 14-15. The State Expert Appraisal Committee for Environment had already given its approval in March. However, the term of the members of the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority, which was to finally approve these proposals, had expired, leading to the matter being referred to the central expert committee.
Among the key directives from the expert committee is that project implementers must ensure all recommendations provided by CSIR and CIMFR are followed to minimize the impact of potential explosions during excavation for the tunnel’s construction. Directives related to vibration, flooding, and geological studies must also be complied with. A report on these aspects must be submitted to the Environment Ministry every six months. The committee has also recommended the construction of four ground vibration monitoring stations. Measures to mitigate accidents caused by landslides or floods during construction work are also mandated.
As the route passes through the biodiversity-rich Western Ghats, necessary steps must be taken for the protection of birds, including the Banarasa Laughingthrush (Banasura Chilappan), and other wildlife listed as protected. Other conditions include the protection of the Appankappu elephant corridor, constant monitoring as the proposed project falls within an ecologically sensitive area, the formation of an expert committee comprising four members recommended by the Collector, ensuring adequate safety for construction workers, ensuring construction does not impede the natural flow of the Iruvazhinji River, and continuous monitoring of air quality inside the tunnel.
A committee meeting on April 4 had sought detailed studies from the state government regarding the geological structure, landslides, and water flow in the region, prior to issuing these directives. The tunnel road construction will proceed under a tripartite agreement involving the Public Works Department, KIIFB, and Konkan Railway. Bhopal-based Dilip Buildcon and Kolkata-based Royal Infrastructure have been awarded the contract for the project, which is estimated to cost ₹2,134 crore. Tender procedures were completed earlier.