Eight Kasaragod Panchayats Launch Project to Revive Traditional Surangam Tunnels

Eight grama panchayats in Kasaragod district of Kerala have green‑lit a heritage drive to <b>revive</b> the age‑old <b>surangam</b> tunnel system, covering Kayyur‑Cheemeni, Kodom‑Belur, Kallar, Pallikkara, Bedadka, Puthige, Chengala and Kumbla. The initiative shines a light on years of bureaucratic inertia that left these subterranean passages to rot, while officials chased newer projects. It’s a rare case where grassroots bodies push heritage preservation against a sluggish state apparatus. If successful, the tunnels could boost eco‑tourism and give locals a tangible link to their maritime past.