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

The first controlled rockburst 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, when Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan officially launched the process under tight security at Marippuzha in Kozhikode district.

Hundreds of people, including local residents and representatives of local institutions, gathered to watch the live broadcast at Muthappanpuzha ALP school at 12.15 pm. As part of the security measures implemented around the project area, public access to the site was restricted.

The location of the explosion prepared for the opening ceremony on Friday, March 6, 2026 | Photo Credit: special editing

The event was chaired by Public Works Minister PA Mohamed Riyas. Forest Minister AK Saseendran, Linto Joseph, MLA and Thamarassery Bishop Remigiose Inchananiyil were among those present.

Various preliminary arrangements

Officials who oversaw the process said the rock blasting was carried out after completion of various preliminary arrangements, including the construction of a temporary bridge, installation of fuel tanks and setting up of labor camps and crushing units.

The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change had earlier granted Phase – II permission for the project, which is the flagship infrastructure initiative of the Kerala government. The approval allowed conversion of 17.26 hectares of forest land under the provisions of the Forest (Conversion) Act, 1980 for implementation of the project.

The ministry has also prescribed 24 stringent conditions to ensure that the project does not adversely affect the surrounding ecology. These include determining the clear boundaries of diverted forest land in return for the project cost, compensatory afforestation equivalent to 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-kilometre twin tunnel road connecting Wayanad and Kozhikode districts will be among the largest infrastructure development projects in the state. They said the construction, which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister on August 31, 2025, is progressing rapidly.

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

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