Twin tunnel of development
The twin tunnel road inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is set to become a milestone in the development of Malabar. The Anakkampoyil-Kallady tunnel road connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts will be sufficient to address the developmental backwardness of the hilly areas of the two districts. With landslides reported in the Thamarassery pass, traffic through this road has become a nightmare for motorists. Moreover, travel here is delayed and disrupted for hours during heavy rains. Apart from these, accidents are becoming common, as a container truck teetered on the edge of a gorge the other day.
Considering all this, it is high time to root for the twin tunnel road that will hopefully fulfil the long-standing need for an alternative road for Wayanad.
The proposed tunnel is 8.73 km long. The estimated cost is Rs 2134 crore. 90 per cent of the land required for the project has been acquired. The construction is being carried out by the Kerala Public Works Department. The Konkan Railway Corporation is the special-purpose vehicle for this. Two private companies from Bhopal and Kolkata will complete the construction. The completion of this double tunnel will mark the end of the ordeal faced by commuters vying to connect the two districts often.
The Chief Minister, in his inaugural speech, pointed out that the start of the double tunnel in Wayanad proved that development projects will not be left behind even if the Centre denies assistance. There was a move to dismantle KIIFB. But the tunnel is being built using funds from it. The Chief Minister also clarified that the project will boost the commercial, industrial, tourism and agricultural sectors of Malabar.
The construction of the tunnel should be carried out with utmost care. It is expected that the supervision of the Konkan Railway Corporation, an experienced player in this regard, will help in completing the route within the stipulated time frame. No government can completely abandon development projects in the name of environmental protection. The government should take steps to minimise environmental damage and create awareness among people.
False propaganda in the pretext of saving the environment is likely to pop up in the coming days, and it is pertinent that the government work ways to prevent any such devious attempts. This twin tunnel, the alternative to the Wayanad Pass, will be completed within four years, and it will become the largest dual carriageway in the country.
Kerala has embarked on the construction of this twin tunnel after overcoming many challenges and crises. People from all strata of society, irrespective of political affiliation, should coalesce as one group to help in the fast completion of the project.