The Kerala High Court has cleared the way for the continuation of the Wayanad tunnel road construction, dismissing a petition filed by the Wayanad Nature Protection Committee that sought to halt the project on environmental grounds.
The public interest litigation, submitted in July, alleged violations of mandatory procedures and claimed that key environmental factors were overlooked while launching the project. After issuing notices to both the Central and State governments and hearing detailed arguments, the court ruled that the construction could move forward.
The bench, led by the Chief Justice, observed that all statutory procedures had been duly followed and that the project commenced only after securing the necessary environmental clearances. In view of this, the court said there was no justification to impose a stay on the work.
The court also took note of the affidavits filed by the Centre and the State confirming compliance with legal and environmental norms. The project has been entrusted to the Konkan Railway Corporation, which has a proven track record in executing complex infrastructure projects, including the Konkan Railway line.
With the High Court’s verdict, the long-awaited Wayanad tunnel road project moves ahead, boosting hopes for improved connectivity and development in the region.
