EIA Clears Aanakkampoyil-Meppadi Tunnel with 25 Conditions

07 Mar 2025 CW Team

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Committee has granted approval for the much-anticipated Aanakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel, which is being developed as an alternative to the Thamarassery pass. The project received the green light after the expert committee, in its meeting on March 1, recommended final approval from the State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA). The approval comes with 25 conditions aimed at minimizing environmental impact.

Given the ecologically sensitive nature of the region, strict safety measures have been mandated during construction. These include fine-scale mapping, monitoring landslide-prone areas, and setting up meteorological stations on both ends of the tunnel road to provide early warnings of extreme rainfall. Additionally, tunneling methods must be adapted to the land's structure, and a four-member expert committee, as recommended by the District Collector, will oversee the project.

To protect the Appankapu elephant reserve, 3.0579 hectares of forest land will be acquired, and continuous monitoring will be conducted to safeguard the endangered ‘Banasura Chilappan’ bird. The project must also ensure that construction does not obstruct the natural flow of the Iruvazhinjippuzha river.

The approval further stipulates stringent air quality monitoring inside the tunnel and adequate security measures for the workforce. Progress will be reviewed every six months, with mandatory reports to ensure compliance.

With an estimated cost of Rs 21.34 billion, the project is being executed by Dilip Buildcon Limited for the tunnel construction, while Royal Infrastructure Company will develop the Sampanna Road. The land acquisition process is nearly 90% complete, with only space for storing construction materials pending.

Once completed, the tunnel will significantly ease travel by connecting Aanakkampoyil in Kozhikode district to Kalladi in Meppadi panchayat, Wayanad, offering a vital alternative to the existing Thamarassery pass.

Infrastructure Urban

05 Nov 2025

TBO Tek Q2 Profit Climbs 12%, Revenue Surges 26% YoY

TBO Tek Limited one of the world’s largest travel distribution platforms, reported a solid performance for Q2 FY26 with a 26 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue to Rs 5.68 billion, reflecting broad-based growth and improving profitability.The company recorded a Gross Transaction Value (GTV) of Rs 8,901 crore, up 12 per cent YoY, driven by strong performance across Europe, MEA, and APAC regions. Adjusted EBITDA before acquisition-related costs stood at Rs 1.04 billion, up 16 per cent YoY, translating into an 18.32 per cent margin compared to 16.56 per cent in Q1 FY26. Profit after tax r..

Northern Graphite, Rain Carbon Secure R&D Grant for Greener Battery Materials

Northern Graphite Corporation and Rain Carbon Canada Inc, a subsidiary of Rain Carbon Inc, have jointly received up to C$860,000 (€530,000) in funding under the Canada–Germany Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme to develop sustainable battery anode materials.The two-year, C$2.2 million project aims to transform natural graphite processing by-products into high-performance, battery-grade anode material (BAM). Supported by the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Programme (NRC IRAP) and Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs a..

Antony Waste Q2 Revenue Jumps 16%; Subsidiary Wins Rs 3,200 Cr WtE Projects

Antony Waste Handling Cell Limited (AWHCL), a leading player in India’s municipal solid waste management sector, announced a 16 per cent year-on-year increase in total operating revenue to Rs 2.33 billion for Q2 FY26. The growth was driven by higher waste volumes, escalated contracts, and strong operational execution.EBITDA rose 18 per cent to Rs 570 million, with margins steady at 21.6 per cent, while profit after tax stood at Rs 173 million, up 13 per cent YoY. Revenue from Municipal Solid Waste Collection and Transportation (MSW C&T) reached Rs 1.605 billion, and MSW Processing re..