First rock blast for Kerala’s tunnel road project successfully completed under safety measures

The first controlled rock blast at the site of the proposed Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road project connecting Kozhikode and Wayanad districts of Kerala was carried out on Friday (March 6, 2026), with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan formally inaugurating the process under stringent safety measures at Marippuzha in Kozhikode district.

Hundreds of people, including local residents and local body representatives, gathered to witness the live telecast at the Muthappanpuzha ALP school at 12.15 p.m. Entry of public had been restricted to the site as part of the safety measures in place around the project area.

Minister for Public Works P.A. Mohamed Riyas presided over the function. Forest Minister A.K. Saseendran, Linto Joseph, MLA, and Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil were among those present.

Several preliminary arrangements

Officials who oversaw the process said the rock blasting was undertaken after completing several preliminary arrangements, including the construction of a temporary bridge, installation of fuel tanks and the setting up of labour camps and crusher units.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had earlier granted Stage – II clearance for the project, a flagship infrastructure initiative of the Kerala government. The approval permitted the conversion of 17.26 hectares of forest land under provisions of the Forest (Conversion) Act, 1980 for the execution of the project.

The Ministry also stipulated 24 stringent conditions to ensure that the project does not adversely affect the surrounding ecology. These include clear demarcation of the diverted forest land at the project cost, undertaking compensatory afforestation on an equivalent extent of non-forest land and planting at least 1,000 saplings per hectare within two years.   

According to Public Works department (PWD) officials, the 8.73-km twin tunnel road connecting the districts of Wayanad and Kozhikode will be among the largest infrastructure development projects in the State. They said the construction, which was opened by the Chief Minister on August 31, 2025, is progressing at a rapid pace.

The project, monitored by the PWD and financed by Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), will be implemented under the supervision of Konkan Railway Corporation Limited, the special purpose vehicle. As per the construction agreement, the project is to be completed within four years at an estimated cost of ₹2,134.5 crore.

The contract has been awarded to Dilip Buildcon, based in Bhopal and Royal Infrastructure, headquartered in Kolkata.