Coimbatore-Thrissur can be travel In 10 Minutes via Kuthiran Tunnel- Misleading post goes viral

The distance between Coimbatore to Thrissur is 114 km and the time taken to travel this distance is nearly two hours 30 minutes using the tunnel.

A video of vehicles passing through a tunnel has gone viral on social media platforms, with the claim that the Kuthiran Tunnel has shortened travel time between Coimbatore (A city in Tamil Nadu) and Thrissur (A state in Kerala) to just 10 minutes.

Caption states “Coimbatore to Trichur Tunnel Opened.2 hour journey is now 10 minutes.Thanks to Modi Govt and infrastructure development. NO MEDIA HOUSE TALKS about such news”.

The caption is vague, and does not specify whether it is referring to the entire journey between Coimbatore to Thrissur being reduced to ten minutes of travel time, or whether the tunnel reduces the travel time through Kuthiran from two hours to ten minutes. However, looking through the posts users have percieved the caption as claiming that the tunnel would reduce the travel time between Coimbatore to Thrissur to just ten minutes.

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The same post was shared on twitter also.

COIMBATORE
Coimbatore to Trichur Tunnel Opened. 2 hour journey is now 10 minutes.
Thanks to Govt of INDIA infrastructure development.
NO MEDIA HOUSE TALKS about such news. pic.twitter.com/ScOIKrNEtZ

— Mouli. (@Chandramouli1_) June 25, 2023

Fact Check

The Kuthiran twin Tunnel was built in Kerala between Palakkad and Thrissur. The 1.6-kilometer tunnel will go through the Peechi-Vazahani wildlife reserve. Previously, automobiles had to pass around Kuthiran Hill, which was known for being a major accident site and causing problems for commuters. The Kuthiran Tunnel was built with the goal of minimising traffic congestion and accidents along the route.

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 (मोदी का परिवार) (@nitin_gadkari) July 31, 2021

Further, the Kuthiran twin Tunnel was made operational in July 2021 and the second one was opened in January 2022.

According to Google Maps, the distance between Coimbatore to Thrissur is 114 km and the time taken to travel this distance is nearly two hours 30 minutes (without traffic) using the tunnel, which stretches for only 1.6 km. Therefore, a two-hour journey cannot be completed in just ten minutes by passing via a tunnel. However, the newly constructed tunnel has reduced the time it took to cross Kuthiran Hill to under two minutes.

Even with the detour (without tunnel route), Google Maps shows that the distance between Thrissur-Coimbatore is 114 kilometers. This means that the tunnel does not shorten the distance per second

Moreover, this tunnel does not connect the two cities; it only bypasses Kuthiran Hill in Kerala.

Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found the claim made along the viral video to be Misleading. The distance between Coimbatore to Thrissur is 114 km and the time taken to travel this distance is nearly two hours 30 minutes using the tunnel.