Kozhikode: The financial tender for the construction of Anakampoil-Kalladi- Meppadi tunnel project, which has been the demand of the people of Malabar for years, will be opened this month. Konkan railway corporation has invited tenders for Rs 1736.45 crore. It is also suggested in the tender that the work should be completed within four years.

The tender will open in two packages. Five companies participated in the first package and eight in the second package.

The first package consists of 400 meters of the project which includes a bridge. The tunnel comes in the second package. After scrutinizing the documents submitted by the 13 interested companies in the technical tender, the financial tenders of the eligible companies will be opened.

Officials of the Konkan railways, who are in-charge of the project, said that the financial tenders will be opened by the end of May.

Certain criteria have been communicated to the companies to determine the eligibility. The companies will be selected accordingly.

The tunnel extends from Maripuha village near Anakamppoil village to Kalladi in Meppadi panchayat. A 250 meter road needs to be constructed at Kalladi and a 750 meter bridge is required at Maripuzha.