The much-delayed widening work of National Highway stretch between Vadakkanchery and Mannuthy has got a fillip with the tunnelling equipment to drill Kuthiran Hills reaching the spot.
The equipment consisting of Boomer drill rigs will cut a one-km-long tunnel through the Kuthiran to help avoid vehicular congestions while traversing the hills.
The 28-km stretch is a vital part of the highway linking Palakkad and Thrissur. Mumbai-based Pragathi Engineering and Rail Project Private Limited has bagged the sub contract for the Kuthiran tunnel construction at a cost of Rs.200 crore.
Sources from the company, which had earlier done similar works for Mumbai-Pune Express Highway and Konkan Railway Corporation, said the tunnelling works would be initiated very soon.
Tunnels
There would be two separate tunnels at Kuthiran and each would have 14-metre width and 10-metre height.
Meanwhile, widening works are in fast pace in the rest of the areas of the stretch after the Hyderabad-based KMC, which is the contractor-firm for the project, was able to source fresh bank loans a month ago.
The company had diverted loans for other purposes resulting in the delay of the project.
The work had stopped completely in October last year resulting in road transportation between Palakkad and Thrissur turning a nightmare for commuters.
The poor condition of the existing road and the indiscriminate delay in six-laning create traffic snarls that last several hours. Commuters now hope this situation to turn better.
Contract
It was in 2010 that the KMC undertook the contract for the widening work, promising that it would be completed in 30 months.
However, land acquisition was delayed till May 2013.
The total estimate of the work is Rs.1,300 crore. In the first phase, the contractor was able to carry out only 13 per cent of it.
Now the banks have asked the contractor to complete another 20 per cent in three months.
The work was resumed following strong pressure from the State government and the civil society movements in Thrissur.
New road overbridges will be built at Vadakkanchery, Mannuthy and Irumbu Palam.
