Traffic ban to continue in Munnar after another landslip on Kochi–Dhanushkodi National Highway

DistrictCollector Dineshan Cheruvatt has prolonged the ban on vehicular visitors on the Adimaly–Munnar stretch of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi Nationwide Freeway for an additional two weeks on Saturday following one other main landslip at Karadippara, close to Moonammile, within the Munnar hill station.

Officers stated visitors was suspended on the route final Monday after a landslip occurred throughout highway-widening work. Nationwide Highways Authority of India (NHAI) officers subsequently started clearing rock and particles, anticipating to finish the work inside every week. Nonetheless, throughout the clearing operations, an enormous amount of rock and particles fell onto the freeway on Friday night, damaging the retaining wall on the decrease stretch of the highway. Following the incident, the district administration determined to increase the entire visitors ban for an additional two weeks.

A senior Income division official stated free rock and soil have been persevering withto slip down throughout the clearing operations. “When rockfalls happen, massive plenty of rock and timber are left perched on the prime with none grip. The particles continues to fall onto the highway throughout the work. With out absolutely eradicating the particles, we can’t resume visitors on the freeway. As well as, the retaining wall have to be rebuilt. The NHAI has been directed to hurry up the work. We count on to finish the work inside two weeks,” the official stated.

In the meantime, sources famous that clearing the particles and rebuilding the safety wall after the second landslip stays a serious problem that might take longer than anticipated.

Final week, following the preliminary landslip, visitors on the freeway was diverted alongside various routes. Motorists travelling from Adimaly to Munnar was requested to divert at Iruttukanam and proceed through Anachal and Randammile to succeed in Munnar. These heading from Munnar to Adimaly have been requested to take the reverse Randammile–Anachal–Iruttukanam route. Travellers headed towards Mankulam have been requested to divert at Iruttukanam to succeed in Kallar Junction earlier than turning onto the Mankulam highway.

In response to officers, motorists should proceed utilizing these various routes whereas the total ban stays in place. “With out imposing an entire visitors ban, the authorities can’t safely proceed the particles removing and road-strengthening work,” the official added.