Fact Check: Does The Thrissur-Coimbatore Tunnel Reduce Journey Time From 2 Hours To 10 Minutes?

Bengaluru: A 1.6 km road tunnel was opened in Kerala on July 31. Named Kuthiran Tunnel, the twin-tubed tunnel connects Thrissur to Coimbatore.

BJP Gujarat’s state general secretary Ratnakar tweeted that the tunnel reduces the two-hour journey to 10 minutes, praising the Indian government for the development.

Coimbatore to Trichur Tunnel Opened.
2hours Journey is now 10Minutes.
Thanks to the Govt of india Infrastructure development.
May be no Media house will talk about such Good News. pic.twitter.com/mTZy9H1Umo

— Ratnakar (@ratnakar273) August 9, 2021

The tweet sparked a flurry of responses as netizens pointed out that the distance reduced is actually a few kms and calculated that the time saved would be around 10 minutes.

However, the mountainous terrain which is infamous for long traffic congestions and bottlenecks, often increase 2-hour journeys to 3-4 hours, locals commented.

The Mannuthy-Wadakkanchery stretch is an accident-prone area too.

Hence, the time spent will be greatly reduced due to the new tunnels.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari had noted that the tunnel passes through Peechi-Vazahani wildlife sanctuary but is designed in such a way that it will not endanger wildlife.

We will open one side of the Kuthiran Tunnel in Kerala today. This is the first road tunnel in the state and will drastically improve connectivity to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The 1.6 km long tunnel is designed through Peechi- Vazahani wildlife sanctuary. pic.twitter.com/9yG0VhrsLq

— Nitin Gadkari (@nitin_gadkari) July 31, 2021