Persistent gridlock along the winding Thamarassery Ghat Road has long tested the patience of travellers journeying between Kozhikode and Wayanad. Now, with the ambitious Anakkampoyil-Kalladi-Meppadi twin-tube tunnel road stalled following a debris slip on July 7, 2026, public frustration has breathed fresh life into an alternative corridor that has lingered on the drawing board for nearly five decades.

Key Highlights of the Proposed Route

  • Proposed alignment: Vilangad–Panom–Kunhome–Mananthavady, linking north Kozhikode directly to north Wayanad.
  • Work required: Only about 3 km of fresh road construction needed to link existing stretches.
  • Current obstacle: A 7-km section between Panom and Kunhome passes through reserve forest, requiring strict environmental clearances.
  • Status of tunnel road: The Kerala government is awaiting an expert panel report before deciding whether to restart work at Kalladi.

A 50-Year Quest for an Alternative Passage

The campaign to carve out a motorable path from Vilangad through Panom to Kunhome dates back to 1977. While regional lawmakers revived the push through the late 1980s and early 1990s, community impatience boiled over in 2009 when an organized protest march into the forest was halted by police. Historically, the trail served as an old walking route between the two districts long before modern highways took shape.

Today, a wide road already joins Vilangad to Panom. Beyond that lies a 7-km stretch toward Kunhome, where an existing coupe road covers nearly 4 km. Local residents point out that building just 3 km of new roadway could finally link the disconnected ends and make the route fully functional.

Tackling the Reserve Forest Hurdle

The primary barrier remains environmental. Because the entire 7-km gap between Panom and Kunhome cuts across reserve forest, statutory clearances present a formidable challenge. To bypass the impasse, advocates are championing an elevated viaduct that would minimize forest-floor disruption and permit wild animals to move unimpeded beneath it. An earlier feasibility study by the Vanimel grama panchayat similarly suggested a network of bridges and culverts.

Political Momentum and Next Steps

A recent people's convention inaugurated by Shafi Parambil, MP, signaled renewed political coordination across party lines. An action committee has been formally instituted under the chairmanship of K.M. Abhijith, MLA, with Kozhikode district panchayat vice-president K.K. Navas serving as convenor. MPs Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Shafi Parambil, alongside MLA Usha Vijayan, have stepped in as chief patrons.

The committee intends to convene a high-level conference in Thiruvananthapuram shortly. Their immediate agenda includes securing funds for a preliminary survey, drafting a technical report for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and seeking central government clearance for the project.