Wayanad: After years of delay and public protests, the Public Works Department (PWD) has proposed the new alignment for the 7 km Padinjarathara–Poozhithode road, planned as an alternative route to the Thamarassery Ghat Road connecting Kozhikode with Wayanad.

The new alignment includes a 2.8-km tunnel road to bypass the steep elevation near Vilanganpara and a 36-meter bridge across the Muthett River. PWD officials said the revised alignment covers 20.97 km, which is 6.2 km shorter than the earlier plan. The design was prepared after a detailed study costing ₹1.5 crore.

Once the state government approves the proposal, the department will prepare a preliminary project report by October 25.Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas informed the Assembly that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) would be finalised by December.

The project has been delayed for nearly three decades as it passes through 13 km of vested forest land, for which the Centre had denied clearance. Public protests demanding its completion recently crossed 1,000 days.

While the road action council welcomed the renewed efforts, it expressed concern that the proposed tunnel could lead to further delays. Kamal Joseph, convener of the Padinjarathara–Poozhithode Road Action Council said there were rumours that heavy vehicles may not be permitted through the tunnel and urged officials to clarify the issue.

He added that residents had already handed over 104 acres of land in 1998, free of cost, to compensate for forest land along the stretch, land the Forest Department can reclaim at any time. Despite budget allocation and partial construction in the 1994–95 state budget, the project has remained incomplete, with around 70 per cent of the work finished on both ends of the forest zone.