The state government is all set to begin the construction work for the Kozhikode – Wayanad tunnel road, an ambitious Rs 2149 crore project that is expected to decongest the traffic nightmare in the ghat road (NH766) commuters have been raising for many years now.
Meanwhile, with environmental clearance yet to be provided by the central government, several concerns from public and environmental experts over the feasibility of the project remains unaddressed.
The tunnel connects Marippuzha in Thiruvambady to Meppadi in Wayanad, an 8.17-kilometer road consisting of a twin tunnel that passes the high ranges of Kozhikode and Wayanad. The government is expecting that once construction is over, the tunnel will reduce the travel time, distance and the heavy traffic block in the region.
However, environmentalists and experts have raised serious concerns over the feasibility of the project and stated that it will have enormous and irreversible damage to the biodiversity as well as the ecosystem.
The Wayanad Prakrithi Samrakshana Samithi (WPSS), an environmental group that has already raised concerns about the project has written letters to the Union Minister and the Secretary of Forest and Environment to reject the application prepared by the PWD (Public Works Department), which was in favor of the state government.
“Marippuzha, the place from where the construction begins is an eco-sensitive area. There have been more than 50 landslides near this place in 2018 and 2019. Most of these landslides have been reported in the land slopes causing a major concern among the public”, said Badusha, members of the WPSS to TV9.
“The region also has the presence of endemic bird species like ‘Banasura Chilappan’, a bird which is found only in this region. The western ghat region also has the presence of rare amphibians. The project of this scale will affect the eco-system of such species”, he added.
However, the state government has refuted the allegations and said that the project will enhance the interstate transportation system (Between Kerala and Karnataka).
“The project will reduce the travel time between Calicut and Mysore by an hour and also will reduce the traffic congestion considerably and will come as huge relief for trade and business”, said Jomon, a CPIM activist in Kalpetta, Wayanad.
Traffic congestion in the Thamarassery Ghat road has been a major challenge for the commuters who travel from Bangalore and Mysore to various parts of Kerala. The traffic snarls in the region becomes heavy during the weekends and during vacations like Onam, Christmas, New Year and Bakrid when a large section of Keralites travel from Bangalore to Kerala
The state government is all set to begin the construction work for the Kozhikode – Wayanad tunnel road, an ambitious Rs 2149 crore project that is expected to decongest the traffic nightmare in the ghat road (NH766) commuters have been raising for many years now. Kerala States News India: Top News India, States News, States News Headlines, Online State News India, State Politics news
