₹10 lakh for feasibility study for Theni tunnel project a boost for Idukki

The budget allocation for a feasibility study of the Kattappana-Theni tunnel road project has brought renewed hope to the tourism and trade sectors in Idukki. Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal allocated ₹10 lakh for the study, noting that the completed project would reduce the travel distance between Kattappana and Theni by over 20 km, significantly improving connectivity between Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

According to sources, the concept for the tunnel road was developed during the International Kerala Study Congress held at Kalvarimount, Idukki, in August 2025. The seminar, titled “Nava Idukki Puthuvazhikal,” was led by former Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac. The current plan proposes a tunnel road stretching from Parakkadavu, near Kattappana, to the first hairpin curve near Cumbum in Tamil Nadu. While the existing route is approximately 40 km, the tunnel would slash the distance to just 12 km.

Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine stated that the proposed project would transform the face of the district. Modelled after the Wayanad tunnel road, it is expected to become one of the most significant subterranean routes in the State.

“Sabarimala pilgrims from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana can easily reach Idukki while avoiding the risky ghat roads currently connecting the two States,” said Mr Augustine.

District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) Secretary Jitheesh Jose said that the road would connect directly to Kattappana, the district’s central hub. “The tunnel will ensure easy access for tourists to Cheruthoni, Vagamon, Munnar, Thekkady, and Kalvarimount. As a large number of tourists arrive from Tamil Nadu, this project will provide a major boost to Idukki’s tourism sector,” said Mr Jose.

Beyond tourism, the road is expected to be a lifeline for the district’s Tamil-speaking population, many of whom rely on the Theni Medical College for healthcare. The project will drastically reduce emergency transit times to the facility.

Other major budget allocations for Idukki include ₹20 crore for the Kalyanathandu and Anchuruli tourism hubs, ₹17 crore for the Pattissery dam and canal reconstruction, ₹14 crore for the development of Idukki Medical College, ₹8 crore for the Devikulam National Adventure Academy, ₹5 crore as additional funding for the Idukki Package, ₹4 crore for a Mini Food Park at Cheruthoni and ₹1.5 crore for a new government Ayurvedic college at Udumbanchola.

However, the budget notably lacked any special projects for Idukki’s struggling farming and plantation sectors.