3 months ago
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The fund allocation for a feasibility survey of the Kattappana-Theni passageway roadworthy task has brought renewed anticipation to the tourism and commercialized sectors successful Idukki. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal allocated ₹10 lakh for the study, noting that the completed task would trim the question region betwixt Kattappana and Theni by implicit 20 km, importantly improving connectivity betwixt Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
According to sources, the conception for the passageway roadworthy was developed during the International Kerala Study Congress held astatine Kalvarimount, Idukki, successful August 2025. The seminar, titled “Nava Idukki Puthuvazhikal,” was led by erstwhile Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac. The existent program proposes a passageway roadworthy stretching from Parakkadavu, adjacent Kattappana, to the archetypal hairpin curve adjacent Cumbum successful Tamil Nadu. While the existing way is astir 40 km, the passageway would slash the region to conscionable 12 km.
Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine stated that the projected task would alteration the look of the district. Modelled aft the Wayanad passageway road, it is expected to go 1 of the astir important subterranean routes successful the State.
“Sabarimala pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana tin easy scope Idukki portion avoiding the risky ghat roads presently connecting the 2 States,” said Mr Augustine.
District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Secretary Jitheesh Jose said that the roadworthy would link straight to Kattappana, the district’s cardinal hub. “The passageway volition guarantee casual entree for tourists to Cheruthoni, Vagamon, Munnar, Thekkady, and Kalvarimount. As a ample fig of tourists get from Tamil Nadu, this task volition supply a large boost to Idukki’s tourism sector,” said Mr Jose.
Beyond tourism, the roadworthy is expected to beryllium a lifeline for the district’s Tamil-speaking population, galore of whom trust connected the Theni Medical College for healthcare. The task volition drastically trim exigency transit times to the facility.
Other large fund allocations for Idukki see ₹20 crore for the Kalyanathandu and Anchuruli tourism hubs, ₹17 crore for the Pattissery dam and canal reconstruction, ₹14 crore for the improvement of Idukki Medical College, ₹8 crore for the Devikulam National Adventure Academy, ₹5 crore arsenic further backing for the Idukki Package, ₹4 crore for a Mini Food Park astatine Cheruthoni and ₹1.5 crore for a caller authorities Ayurvedic assemblage astatine Udumbanchola.
However, the fund notably lacked immoderate peculiar projects for Idukki’s struggling farming and plantation sectors.
