Wayanad Model Township Phase One to Be Inaugurated on March 1

Thiruvananthapuram: The first phase of the Wayanad Model Township, being developed by the state government to rehabilitate survivors of the Chooralmala-Mundakai landslide, will be inaugurated on March 1. The function, originally scheduled for February 25, was rescheduled. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the township and distribute title deeds to beneficiaries. Revenue Minister K Rajan will preside over the ceremony to be held at Elston Estate.

The township has taken shape through the coordinated efforts of various government departments, agencies, and workers, with designs tailored to the unique topography and climate of Wayanad. Of the 410 houses and associated facilities planned under the project, 178 houses have been completed in the first phase. These homes will be allotted to families who lost their residences entirely in the disaster.

Each single-storey house spans 1,000 square feet and has been constructed with a foundation strong enough to support an additional floor in the future, enhancing resilience against natural calamities. The layout includes a main bedroom, two additional rooms, a sitting room, living area, study room, dining space, kitchen, and storage area.

Once completed, the 410 houses will provide shelter to more than 1,662 people. In addition to housing, the township will feature essential infrastructure and community facilities, including internal roads, a health centre, an anganwadi, a public market, and community centres. The health centre will be equipped with laboratory, pharmacy, examination, vaccination and observation rooms, along with outpatient and ticket counter facilities. The public market will include shops, stalls, an open marketplace, a children’s playground, and parking space. The community centre will house a multipurpose hall, playground, library, sports club, and an open-air theatre.

The government acquired 64.4705 hectares of land at Elston Estate in Kalpetta to establish the rehabilitation township, aiming to provide a safe and secure living environment for disaster survivors. Construction began immediately after the land acquisition. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan laid the foundation stone for the project on March 27, 2025.

Envisioned as a place of renewal for families who lost everything, the rehabilitation township at Elston Estate is steadily progressing, with the remaining construction work advancing at a rapid pace.