Thiruvananthapuram, March 7 -- Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the start of blasting works of the controversial Wayanad tunnel project between Anakkampoyil and Meppadi on Friday.

CM Vijayan, accompanied by PWD minister PA Mohammed Riyas and local MLA Linto Joseph, reached Marippuzha in Kozhikode district where he attended the ceremony of the 'first blast' of the 8.73-km-long twin tunnel project. In accordance with all safety measures, CM Vijayan switched on the system and the explosives placed at the entrance of one of the tubes of the proposed tunnel were detonated.

The construction of the twin tunnel tube project, which is aimed at providing an alternate commute for people travelling to Wayanad, had begun in August ...