Kerala to explore new alignment of Nilambur–Munderi–Meppadi road

The proposed Hill Highway project connecting Nilambur in Malappuram district and Meppadi in Wayanad district got a shot in the arm as the state government announced its decision to explore the possibility of a new alignment across the region to make the project a reality.

Reacting to a submission in the Assembly, Public Works Department Minister PK Basheer recently said that the possibility of realigning the Nilambur-Munderi-Meppadi road would be explored, though the area has been classified as landslide-prone by the State Disaster Management Authority.

Joint control

According to him, as part of the project, officials from Kerala Road Fund Board (KRFB), National Transportation Planning and Research Center (NATPAC), Forest Department and Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB) conducted a joint inspection of the site where there are currently no roads along the proposed route.

The study then found that building a road along the existing line was impractical. However, the Minister said that though the proposed route passes through a highly ecologically sensitive area in the Western Ghats, efforts are on to revise the current alignment and introduce the proposed route.

The people of the region have been demanding the project for a long time as Thamarassery and Nadukani passes are the only major routes through which people from Malappuram district can enter Wayanad. Traffic jams at both passes often cause problems, despite the travel restrictions imposed during the heavy monsoon. If implemented, the project is expected to reduce the distance between Wayanad and central Kerala by 70 km. It will also reduce the distance from Kochi to Bengaluru and Mysuru by 70 km.

The project is also expected to increase the tourism potential of the region as the road will connect Nilambur, Adyanpara Falls, Kakkadampoil Hills, Meenmutty Falls, Soochipara Falls, Kanthanpara Falls, Chembra Peak, Meppadi, Ambalavayal and Edakkal Caves. However, the previously proposed alignment was shelved after it was found that the project would cause widespread damage to the region’s biodiversity.

Published – 25 Jun 2026 19:25 IST