Kalpetta: A landslide at Thamarassery Ghat Pass has plunged Wayanad into a severe crisis. While intensive efforts are underway to clear the landslide near the viewpoint at Thamarassery Ghat Pass, severe traffic congestion has been reported at Kuttiady Pass. With a minor landslide occurring there as well, the entire district is on high alert. Wayanad, which depends on Kozhikode for everything from medical care to access to the airport and railways, is facing a near standstill. Each episode of isolation has heightened the demand for alternative routes.

Although numerous protests and strikes have taken place, plans for ‘alternative roads’ remain largely on paper. The repeated assurances that work on the Padinjarathara-Poozhithode road and the Churam bypass is progressing have yet to materialise. Following the Thamarassery Ghat Pass landslide, organisations and political parties have renewed calls for an alternative road.

Three decades of waiting

The Padinjarathara-Poozhithode road, designed to connect Kozhikode and Wayanad without a pass, has been under construction for three decades. The 27-km-long road, inaugurated on September 24, 1994, stalled after 75 per cent of the work was completed. The road was to pass through 12 km of forest, but instead of acquiring 52 acres, 104 acres were allocated for afforestation. Construction reached three kilometres up to the forest boundary in Poozhithode and eight kilometres up to Kappikkalam in Padinjarathara, with a metal road completed in the non-forest section.

The project stalled after the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of India failed to approve the release of forest land. In March 2024, the government sanctioned funds for a feasibility study, raising hopes for the project. An administrative sanction of Rs 1.5 crore was allocated to study the 27 km stretch from Poozhithode to Padinjarathara. While a GPS survey has been conducted in Wayanad, surveys in Kozhikode remain incomplete. The Padinjarathara-Poozhithode Janakiya Karma Samiti has been conducting a relay satyagraha in Padinjarathara town for 970 days.

Churam Bypass is also in limbo

The Churam Bypass road, planned to connect Kozhikode to Wayanad, has also stalled. The proposed 14-km road will start at Chippilithode junction on the Thamarassery Ghat Pass path and reach Thalippuzha junction via Maruthilavu. Land acquisition includes 4.85 hectares of forest in Kozhikode, 21.1 hectares of private land, and 12 hectares, including EFL and reserve forest, in Wayanad. Despite two master plans prepared from surveys, no further action has been taken. A protest march demanding completion of the bypass is scheduled for September 16-17, organised by the Wayanad Churam Bypass Action Committee and the Vyapaari Vyasayi Ekopanama Samiti, from Sultan Bathery to Kozhikode.

Meppadi Tunnel and Lakkidi-Adivaram Ropeway offer hope

Despite concerns, the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi Tunnel and Lakkidi-Adivaram Ropeway offer hope. The tunnel project will connect Meppadi to Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode over 22 km, reducing travel distance and easing difficulties at the pass. The four-lane tunnel, costing Rs 2,134 crore, will be constructed under a tripartite agreement between the Public Works Department, KIIFB and Konkan Railway. Contracts were awarded to Bhopal-based Dileep Buildcon and Kolkata-based Royal Infrastructure. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the project on August 31 at St. Mary’s School Ground, Anakkampoyil.

The 3.7-km Lakkidi-Adivaram Ropeway, led by Western Ghats Limited and the Wayanad Chamber of Commerce, will serve as an alternative to the traffic jam in Thamarassery Ghat Pass. The Rs 150-crore project will feature 40 cable cars, with one and a quarter acres of land acquired in Lakkidi and 10 acres in Adivaram.

Rain and landslides continue, and Ghat Pass remains uncertain

Vehicle traffic remains uncertain at Thamarassery Ghat Pass, where a rockfall near the viewpoint caused large rocks, soil and trees to tumble from a height of about 30 metres onto the national highway. Travel disruption due to landslides has persisted for about three days. Continuous rain and landslides have left authorities uncertain about fully reopening the pass.

After a two-and-a-half-hour effort, rocks and debris from Tuesday night’s landslide were cleared near the viewpoint, allowing vehicles to pass. Complete clearance, including fallen rocks and soil, was achieved by 8:30 pm the following day after 13-and-a-half hours of work.

Despite the clearing, an expert team warned of further landslides, prompting the Wayanad district administration to continue the ban on Thursday. Vehicles moved until 8 am, but when landslides recurred at 7 am, the police and administration imposed a ban. Small amounts of soil continued to fall, and later a larger landslide occurred at the viewpoint, prompting the Kozhikode district administration to issue a complete traffic ban. Fire brigade teams and volunteers cleared debris using earthmoving equipment, but landslides continued into Thursday evening and night.

The instability of soil and rocks above the landslide site, combined with fog and rain, has kept the pass closed. Normally, landslides disrupt traffic for only a day, but this blockage has persisted for two days and three nights. Authorities say safety measures cannot be implemented until the rain stops. Plans include constructing a protective wall using metal wire netting.

Calls for immediate action

Priyanka Gandhi, MP, urged Union Minister Nitin Gadkari to make the Thamarassery Ghat Pass passable immediately and to send an expert committee to study measures to prevent further landslides. The traffic jam is causing severe hardship in Wayanad. In a November 2023 meeting convened by Rahul Gandhi, National Highways officials discussed accelerating the Poozhithode-Padinjarathara alternative road, Ghat Pass bypass, Puthuppady-Muthanga four-lane road, and acquisition of land for highway development.

Changes to the central forest rules must be made- CPI

CPI District Secretary EJ Babu said priority should be given to resolving people’s problems and that excessive environmentalism should not block Wayanad’s development. He welcomed the Kalladi tunnel project and called for changes to the central forest rules that hinder district progress.

An alternative route is essential- BJP

BJP district president Prashant Malavayal said an alternative route is essential. The landslide at Thamarassery Ghat Pass temporarily isolated Wayanad. He criticised the Kozhikode collector for not visiting the site and stressed the importance of access to medical facilities and safe travel during festivals.

Immediate action should be taken-Congress

Congress DCC President ND Appachan demanded immediate realisation of alternative routes. He said the Chippilithode-Maruthilavu-Thalippuzha bypass and Padinjarathara-Poozhithode road could alleviate traffic congestion. He alleged the state government is neglecting Wayanad.

Vehicles are restricted for two hours until the rain subsides

Minister of Land Revenue of Kerala, K Rajan, stated that vehicles would not be allowed on the Thamarassery Ghat Pass until the rain stops for at least two hours. Speaking after a collectors’ meeting on the landslide, he said cracks in rocks about 80 feet high at the ninth bend caused the landslide.

The rocks have fragmented, and the water flow is worsening the situation. Soil and debris have been cleared to allow small vehicles to pass when the rain stops. Chain Hitachi machines and cranes have been deployed. The minister directed the Kozhikode district collector to visit the site.

He said Wayanad and Kozhikode collectors are in frequent contact, with fire, geology, soil conservation and police teams stationed at the site under Kozhikode Deputy Collector Rekha’s leadership. Heavy rainfall is expected to occur in four-hour intervals from Friday, which will help assess the rock crack. Heavy vehicles will remain barred. Small vehicles may use the Kuttiady pass, where a minor landslide also occurred. Any repair work is to be expedited.