Adimaly–Munnar stretch shut after rockfall during widening works
The Idukki district administration on Tuesday ordered a ban on vehicular traffic on the Adimaly–Munnar stretch of the Kochi–Dhanushkodi National Highway following a major rockfall at Randammile near the Munnar hill station. The closure, imposed after officials found loose boulders and uprooted trees posing an immediate hazard, comes as the National Highways widening project is underway on the hillside.
District authorities estimate that demolishing and clearing the debris will take approximately three days. The district collector, Dineshan Cheruvayal, has directed the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) project director to remove the obstruction within that timeframe and not allow traffic on the affected section until a technical expert committee certifies the stretch as safe.
"Clear the obstruction within three days,"
The district police chief and local bodies have been instructed to erect proper barricades and increase night-time security on approaches to the closed section. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) has also issued operational instructions to the NHAI to halt vertical cutting of roadside slopes and instead adopt scientifically approved bench-cutting methods to prevent further rockfalls while widening work continues.
Traffic diversions and advice for motorists
Authorities have announced alternative routes for motorists. Traffic from Adimaly to Munnar is being diverted at Iruttukanam via Anachal and Randammile, while those travelling from Munnar to Adimaly are asked to follow the reverse Randammile–Anachal–Iruttukanam route. Travellers bound for Mankulam should divert at Iruttukanam to reach Kallar Junction and join the Mankulam road.
- Expected clearance: About three days, subject to technical inspection.
- Safety measures: Barricades, heightened night security, suspension of vertical slope cutting.
- Authority in charge: NHAI project director, under directions of the Idukki district collector and DDMA.
| Direction | Divert at | Alternate route |
|---|---|---|
| Adimaly → Munnar | Iruttukanam | Iruttukanam → Anachal → Randammile → Munnar |
| Munnar → Adimaly | Randammile | Randammile → Anachal → Iruttukanam → Adimaly |
| To Mankulam | Iruttukanam | Iruttukanam → Kallar Junction → Mankulam road |
Tourism stakeholders have expressed concern that the diversion will aggravate congestion during the ongoing Pooja holiday period, when Munnar typically records a surge in visitor numbers. Local businesses and transport operators warned that longer travel times on narrower diversion roads may cause gridlock in and around the hill station if traffic volumes remain high.
Technical checks and slope-cutting directive
The administration has stipulated that the closed stretch will reopen only after a technical expert committee inspects the site and issues a safety clearance. The DDMA's direction to stop vertical cutting and adopt bench-cutting is aimed at mitigating slope instability — a practice that has been repeatedly highlighted in landslide- and rockfall-prone hill regions.
The NHAI project team is expected to coordinate with district disaster authorities and the police during the clearance operation. Officials did not provide an estimate of repair costs or detailed timelines beyond the three-day clearance target. Motorists are advised to follow diversion signboards and local police directions, and to avoid the closed stretch until authorities announce reopening.
Given the combination of heavy equipment during widening work and unstable roadside geology, officials said immediate measures to secure the slope and clear debris were necessary to avert potential accidents. The administration's actions reflect heightened caution ahead of sustained tourist movement to Munnar during the festival period.
