Rock drilling machines including rock drill boomers have been delivered to Marippuzha and drilling will commence in the Swargam Kunnu area before proceeding to the Kalladi area of Wayanad. Drilling will follow a cut-and-cover method using Australian technology in which the initial section is drilled and the rock is broken to prepare the path. The operation will begin only after careful examination of rock structure and strength and authorities have put in place strict safety arrangements.
The scheme envisages a four-lane tunnel road with a length of eight point seven three kilometres, including the approach road from Marippuzha to Meenakshi Bridge, of which eight point one one kilometres are double tunnels and each tunnel has two lanes. The alignment includes five point five eight kilometres in Wayanad district and three point one five kilometres in Kozhikode, cross passages connecting the double tunnels every 300 metres, and six curves on the route. A new bridge of 70 metres will provide access to Swargam Kunnu where the tunnel begins across Marippuzha and, after crossing the bridge and walking 200 metres, people will be able to enter the tunnel. The tunnel width is 10 metres and the distance between the tunnels is 15 metres.
The land required for the project totals 33 hectares, including 5,771 metres through forest area and 2,964 metres on private land. The track is being constructed for Rs 20,430 million (mn) under KIIFB with Konkan Rail Corporation as the implementing agency and the overall project cost is Rs 21,340 million (mn), with an expected completion by 2030. Officials say the schedule and safety protocols aim to minimise risk while enabling the tunnelling work to proceed.