The Achenkovil-Chittar Hill Highway will be developed into a major inter-State route, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash has said.
The Minister was inaugurating the 1.6-km stretch of the hill highway passing through the forests at Neelipilavu, near Thannithode, on Friday. Mr. Prakash said the 1.6-km stretch had been laid with interlocking cement paving blocks instead of tar and concrete.
The hill highway, that begins from Courtallam in Tamil Nadu, will pass through Achenkovil, Thura, Chembanaruvi, Mannarappara, Kallely, Naduvathumoozhy, Eliyarackal, Konni, Thannithode, Chittar, Angamoozhy, Plappally, Kumily, Thekkady, Kambom, and Theni to reach Kodaikanal in Tamil Nadu.
Work on the project began in 2007. However, the project had hit a road block a year later with the Forest Department stalling the work following objections raised by the Prakruthi Samrakshana Ekopana Samithi, an eco group.
Distance reduced
He said the hill highway would reduce the existing road distance between Achenkovil and Sabarimala by 40 km. The Rs.13.7-crore NABARD-funded project involved development of various existing roads from Achenkovil to Chittar.
