Kozhikode: The Environmental Impact Assessment Committee has granted approval for the Aanakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel, being constructed as an alternative route to the Thamarassery pass.

During a meeting on March 1, the expert committee recommended that the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority provide final approval for the project. Acting on this recommendation, the approval was subsequently granted, subject to 25 conditions.

Given the environmentally sensitive nature of the area, the approval mandates the implementation of various safety measures during construction.

These include carrying out fine-scale mapping, conducting monitoring in areas prone to landslides and establishing meteorological stations on both sides of the tunnel road to provide early warnings of extremely heavy rainfall.

Additionally, tunnelling methods must be selected according to the land's structure. A four-member expert committee, as recommended by the Collector, will also be formed. To safeguard the Appankapu elephant reserve, 3.0579 hectares of forest land will be acquired, and monitoring will be undertaken to protect the endangered ‘Banasura Chilappan’ bird.

The approval further stipulates that adequate security must be provided for those involved in the construction process, and the construction must not obstruct the natural flow of the Iruvazhinjippuzha river.

Continuous monitoring of the air quality inside the tunnel is also required. To ensure compliance, meetings will be held every six months to review progress, with reports to be submitted accordingly. The contracting companies have pledged to adhere to all conditions.

The project is estimated to cost Rs 2,134 crore. The construction contract has been awarded to Dilip Buildcon Limited for the tunnel and Royal Infrastructure Company for the Sampanna Road. The land acquisition process is 90 percent complete, with only land for storing construction materials remaining.

The tunnel, which begins in Aanakkampoyil in Kozhikode district, will extend to Kalladi in Meppadi panchayat, Wayanad.