The Kerala government has temporarily halted work on the Wayanad twin tunnel project following a construction site accident that claimed the lives of three migrant workers and left five others missing. The decision was taken a day after the incident, with authorities stating that construction will remain suspended until a comprehensive review of safety and environmental concerns is completed.
Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan said the government will conduct both legal and technical investigations into the circumstances surrounding the accident. Officials will also examine whether the construction company complied with the environmental conditions laid down by the Union government before granting approval for the project. Work will resume only after all potential risks have been assessed, he added.
The ₹2,400-crore infrastructure project is being implemented by the Konkan Railway Corporation, with construction of the tunnels awarded to Dilip Buildcon and the approach roads and bridges being developed by Royal Construct. Search and rescue operations are continuing at the site as teams work to locate the missing workers.
Construction on the twin tunnel project began last year from Meppadi in Wayanad and Anakkampoyil in Kozhikode district. The proposed 8.2-kilometre tunnel through the ecologically sensitive Western Ghats is expected to improve connectivity between Wayanad, Karnataka and other parts of Kerala. While excavation has made progress on the Kozhikode side, work in Wayanad had largely been limited to preparing the tunnel entrance before the accident occurred.