An augmented image of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi tunnel road
| Photo Credit: special arrangement
Construction of the Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel project in Keralam remains suspended at both portals, with no indication of an early resumption even after Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL), the implementing agency, and its EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor, Dilip Buildcon Ltd., submitted all the documents sought by the State government-appointed expert committee probing the landslide at the north portal.
The prolonged stoppage has raised concerns over the safety and durability of the 110-metre stretch of tunnelling already completed in the right tube on the Anakkampoyil side. KRCL and the contracting agency have reportedly warned that continued suspension could lead to deterioration of the completed work.
In a communication highlighting the delay, the implementing agencies said they had submitted the documents sought by the five-member expert committee within two days of receiving its initial request on July 18, 2026. The documents included geotechnical investigations, geological reports, tunnel designs and the EPC contract agreement.
The committee sought additional documents only on October 17, nearly three months later. These were submitted on October 23, a day before the stipulated deadline, the agencies said.
The committee was constituted by the State government following a landslide at the north portal on July 7. Its terms of reference included examining possible contractual violations by the contractor and scrutinising the environmental clearances granted by the State and Central governments. The panel was subsequently expanded to 11 members.
A meeting chaired by the Principal Secretary, Revenue, on October 27 discussed the possible causes of the landslide and compliance with the environmental and forest clearance conditions stipulated by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, the expert committee is yet to finalise its report, and the agencies said they had received no communication on the resumption of work. They also pointed out that the committee’s mandate was confined to the landslide at the north portal, while construction remained suspended at both ends.
The committee was originally expected to submit its report within a month. The agencies maintained that the delay in finalising the report could not be attributed to them, as all the requested documents had been furnished within the stipulated time.
Meanwhile, the Meppadi grama panchayat governing committee has unanimously adopted a resolution urging the Union and State governments and the executing agencies to resume construction immediately while ensuring strict compliance with safety norms.
Moved by the panchayat president, the resolution described the tunnel as crucial to the comprehensive development of Malabar, particularly Wayanad. It said the project would provide a lasting solution to traffic congestion on the Thamarassery ghat road while boosting tourism, agriculture and trade. The panchayat urged the authorities, the PWD and KRCL to coordinate efforts to restart the work and ensure its time-bound completion without compromising safety.
Published – November 13, 2026 01:30 pm IST
