The stretch is a vital part of the highway linking Palakkad and Thrissur. Mumbai-based Pragathi Engineering and Rail Project Private Limited has bagged the sub-contract for the Kuthiran tunnel construction at a cost of Rs.200 crore. Sources from the company, which had earlier done similar works for Mumbai-Pune Express Highway and Konkan Railway Corporation, said the tunnelling work would be completed in another six months.
As per the existing plan, the widening work would be completed by May 2017. In Kuthiran, there would be two tunnels and each would have 14 m width and 10 m height. New road overbridges would be built at Vadakkanchery, Mannuthy and Irumbu Palam.
