Recently, the state government of Kerala launched a 7-km long tunnel road cutting through virgin forest in the Western Ghats between the districts of Kozhikode and Wayanad. However, it has been claimed by the forest department that a survey through the forest belt has not been sanctioned by them. According to an IE report, the road is seen as an alternative route to Thamarassery Ghat road that is 13-km long, along the highway of Kozhikode-Wayanad-Bengaluru. Due to the delay in getting additional land cleared by the Environment Ministry, there has been a roadblock in the development of the two-lane ghat road. This tunnel road is likely to reduce the distance between Kozhikode and Bengaluru by 7 km.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, after the launch of the project, said the development of the tunnel road would be completed within a period of three years. He said the tunnel road project got administrative sanction from Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board for an amount of Rs 658 crore. The project for which work will begin after three months is expected to cost Rs 900 crore, the minister said. According to him, the development of that road has limitations as the ghat road passes through the forest. He further said, a detailed study about environmental issues has been conducted by the government and the 7 km long road will be built underground through the forest.
