Much Awaited Kuthiran Tunnel Operational After Gadkari Instructs to Open One Side

New Delhi: The Kuthrian tunnel, part of the Mannuthi-Wadakkanchery stretch of the National Highway in Kerala was opened on Saturday evening. This comes after Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari instructed to open one side of the Tunnel in a tweet.

Note that this is the first road tunnel in the state and will drastically improve connectivity to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The 1.6 km long tunnel is designed through Peechi- Vazahani wildlife sanctuary. The road will improve connectivity to important ports and towns in North-South Corridor without endangering wildlife.

Gadkari said under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, transformation in the infrastructure of the country is ensuring better economic opportunities for every citizen.

At half past 2 on Saturday afternoon, Nitin Gadkari tweeted, “We will open one side of the Kuthiran Tunnel in Kerala today. This is the first road tunnel in the state and will drastically improve connectivity to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The 1.6 km long tunnel is designed through Peechi- Vazhani wildlife sanctuary.” The tunnel is on a road that connects Kerala with its neighbouring states, and has regularly witnessed hours-long traffic congestion.

Soon after Gadkari’s announcement, Thrissur Collector Haritha V Kumar along with Police Commissioner R Aditya opened the tunnel. There was no official inauguration. The vehicle carrying Thrissur district collector Haritha V Kumar passed through the tunnel marking its opening.

In a statement, the NHAI said the decision to avoid an inaugural ceremony was taken in view of the Covid situation prevailing in the state. The formal inauguration of the tunnel will be held when the second tunnel is ready for opening. The construction of this twin tube tunnel which passes through Peechi-Vazhani wildlife sanctuary was launched in 2012.

No toll for now:

No toll will be collected from the Kuthiran tunnel opened for traffic, said Local MLA and revenue minister P Rajan.“Tolls will be collected only after the second tunnel starts functioning,” he said during a combined press meet with Public Works minister P A Mohamed Riyas on Saturday.

Project background:

Kuthiran gradient was a major traffic bottleneck narrow pass and an accident spot on the crowded Thrissur-Palakkad stretch of the National Highway 544 (India). On completion of works, both the tunnels reduced the distance between Kochi to Coimbatore by 3 kilometres (1.86 mi) and travel time considerably since the tunnel through the Kuthiran avoids hitherto existed vehicular congestions in traversing through the hills. The works on tunnel took more than a decade to complete due to geological and administrative challenges.

In August 2018 during 2018 Kerala floods, the tunnel was opened for passage of emergency vehicles. In June 2019 the tunnel was opened for four hours following a Gridlock caused due to an accident at Kuthiran Bridge. In January last year, the tunnel was partially opened to facilitate Power Grid Corporation of India’s underground cabling works between Thrissur and Palakkad.

Source: ToI