Idukki hill highway inauguration today

Idukki: Actor, model and endurance runner Milind Soman will lead a 20km run on Sunday on the newly completed hill highway in Idukki district. The run, organized on the Elappara-Kanchiyar stretch, is part of the inauguration of the hill highway project implemented with support from the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). The 1,332km hill highway traverses 13 districts across Kerala. In Idukki, the featured stretch covers 20km from Kuttikkanam to Chappath. The work of the stretch began during the tenure of the previous LDF govt and it was completed by Jan-end. The participants of the run have been directed to report at 5.30am at Marian College Ground, Kuttikkanam. Registered runners will be provided hydration kits and T-shirts before flagging off the run at 7am. Women bikers, roller skaters and cyclists will accompany the runners along the scenic Kuttikkanam–Chappath route. After the event, Soman will travel in an open jeep to Kattappana, greeting the public along the way.The official inauguration ceremony will be held at Kattappana Mini Stadium after the run. The Kuttikkanam–Chappath–Kattappana stretch, part of the renovated Peermade–Devikulam hill highway, will be inaugurated by PWD and tourism minister P A Mohamed Riyas. Finance minister K N Balagopal will be the chief guest while water resources minister Roshy Augustine will preside over. The hill highway links major tourist corridors, including Vagamon–Thekkady, Vagamon–Anchuruli, Vagamon–Idukki and Vagamon–Munnar, enhancing connectivity across the high ranges.