Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was today informed by his Karnataka counterpart H D Kumaraswamy that steps have been taken to repair the Kannur-Makootam-Perumbadi-Mysore road, which links the two states, on a war-footing.

The road had been damaged in the recent heavy rains that lashed north Kerala. Instructions have also been issued to restore vehicular movement on the road, Vijayan was informed. The Karnataka government had stopped traffic on the stretch for a month and diverted vehicles through another route after severe damage to the road in the heavy rains.

Vijayan had written to the Karnataka chief minister, seeking immediate repair of the road and restoration of traffic on the Thalassery-Mysuru Inter-state highway and had also spoken to Kumaraswamy when they met at New Delhi on June 17, a government press release said. On instructions from Vijayan, Principal Secretary (Public Works) Kamala Vardhana Rao, met the Karnataka chief minister and Public works minister at Bengaluru today and held discussions on the matter.

Kumaraswamy said instructions had been issued to officials concerned to complete the repair work, estimated to cost Rs 6.5 crore, on a war-footing, the release said. The views of experts had also been sought to improve the condition of the road on a permanent basis, it said.