+
PWD seeks MoEF approval for 8 km mega tunnel road project
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

PWD seeks MoEF approval for 8 km mega tunnel road project

The public works department (PWD) has requested the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to seek approval for the planned 8 km-long mega tunnel road project between Kozhikode and Wayanad in the Western Ghat area.

The Rs 2,080-crore four-lane tunnel project intends to decrease the travel time, essentially for interstate motorists between Kerala and Karnataka, by half an hour. Government documents presented to the MoEF reveal that about 63% of the land needed for the project goes via forest land. Of the 54.62 hectares of the geographical region that will be procured for the project, 33.72 hectares come under the ambit of the forest.

PWD told the media that the new connectivity is likely to draw development opportunities in industrial, agricultural and tourism segments to the entire Malabar area.

Meanwhile, ecologists have raised the primary question that how can such a mega project be taken up without carrying out a comprehensive study on the influence of the biodiversity of the area.

Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and architect of the WGEEP report, told the media, that surprisingly, this project has been envisioned close to Puthumala hills, where a massive landslide took place in 2019. The unbelievable disruption of wildlife habitat due to extensive quarrying while boring through the Western Ghats will affect the fragile ecosystem.

Recurred ecological disasters have provided ample warnings to Kerala. It is high time that the government thought of sustainable projects targeted to preserve the environment.

Experts point out that the tunnel project is developing between the scenic Chembra and Vellarimala (silver hills) hill ranges, called the famous Camel hump mountains, one of the most eco-fragile areas in the Western Ghats.

The planned tunnel is passing via a high-value forest region that requires it to be conserved at all prices. The tunnel is only 2 km away from Puthumala, which had witnessed a series of landslides in 2019. The western side of this hill also observed landslides in the heavy rain in 2019 and 2020. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the stability of the hills in this region. The director of Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, C K Vishnudas, told the media that the government must carry out a geological study before going ahead with the tunnel project.

Image Source

The public works department (PWD) has requested the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) to seek approval for the planned 8 km-long mega tunnel road project between Kozhikode and Wayanad in the Western Ghat area. The Rs 2,080-crore four-lane tunnel project intends to decrease the travel time, essentially for interstate motorists between Kerala and Karnataka, by half an hour. Government documents presented to the MoEF reveal that about 63% of the land needed for the project goes via forest land. Of the 54.62 hectares of the geographical region that will be procured for the project, 33.72 hectares come under the ambit of the forest. PWD told the media that the new connectivity is likely to draw development opportunities in industrial, agricultural and tourism segments to the entire Malabar area. Meanwhile, ecologists have raised the primary question that how can such a mega project be taken up without carrying out a comprehensive study on the influence of the biodiversity of the area. Madhav Gadgil, ecologist and architect of the WGEEP report, told the media, that surprisingly, this project has been envisioned close to Puthumala hills, where a massive landslide took place in 2019. The unbelievable disruption of wildlife habitat due to extensive quarrying while boring through the Western Ghats will affect the fragile ecosystem. Recurred ecological disasters have provided ample warnings to Kerala. It is high time that the government thought of sustainable projects targeted to preserve the environment. Experts point out that the tunnel project is developing between the scenic Chembra and Vellarimala (silver hills) hill ranges, called the famous Camel hump mountains, one of the most eco-fragile areas in the Western Ghats. The planned tunnel is passing via a high-value forest region that requires it to be conserved at all prices. The tunnel is only 2 km away from Puthumala, which had witnessed a series of landslides in 2019. The western side of this hill also observed landslides in the heavy rain in 2019 and 2020. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the stability of the hills in this region. The director of Hume Centre for Ecology and Wildlife Biology, C K Vishnudas, told the media that the government must carry out a geological study before going ahead with the tunnel project. Image Source

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

Bihar Launches Rs 53.4 Billion Green Energy Plan

The Bihar government has taken a major stride towards clean energy with the launch of two new policies and the signing of agreements totalling Rs 53.4 billion. These initiatives aim to generate 2,357 megawatts (MW) of renewable energy through solar, wind, battery storage, and other sustainable technologies.The Bihar Renewable Energy Policy 2025 and the Pump Storage Policy 2025 were officially introduced at an event in Patna. Designed to attract significant investment, the policies seek to position Bihar as a key centre for clean energy projects. Energy Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav stated tha..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Bids Invited for Rs 62.5 Billion Vizag Metro Project

The long-anticipated Visakhapatnam Metro Project has made significant progress, with the Andhra Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation inviting bids for the first civil contract under Phase 1 of the Vizag Metro. The estimated cost of this contract is Rs 62.5 billion.This engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract covers the design and construction of a 46.23 km viaduct spanning three corridors, including a 20.16 km double-decker four-lane flyover cum metro viaduct. The project also comprises 42 elevated metro stations across Visakhapatnam.Recently, SYSTRA Consultancy signed a Memorandum ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Oberoi Realty to Buy Hotel Horizon for Rs 9.19 Billion

A consortium led by Mumbai-listed Oberoi Realty Ltd is set to acquire debt-laden Hotel Horizon Pvt Ltd in Juhu, Mumbai for Rs 9.19 billion (approximately USD 107 million) under a resolution plan approved through India’s Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC).In a filing to the stock exchange, Oberoi Realty confirmed that the Committee of Creditors of Hotel Horizon had approved the resolution plan, following which a letter of intent was issued. The consortium also includes Shree Naman Developers and JM Financial Properties.As per the resolution plan, the consortium will make a payment of Rs 9.1..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?