States » SouthPosted at: Sep 30 2026 7:20AM


Kerala’s 616-km West Coast Waterway development gathers pace

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 30 (UNI) The development of Kerala’s 616-km West Coast Waterway from Kovalam to Bekal is progressing with major canal development, bridge reconstruction, boat terminal and jetty projects and a large-scale rehabilitation programme, with the Akkulam-Kadinamkulam stretch set to get a new boat service.
The State Government has identified the development of the West Coast Waterway as one of its priority projects, envisaging a major expansion of water-based passenger transport, cargo movement and tourism. The waterway has been planned from Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram district to Bekal in Kasaragod district, covering a total distance of 616 km.
The Kovalam-Kollam and Kozhikode-Nileshwaram stretches have been accorded State Waterway status, while the Akkulam-Chetuva section has already been commissioned as the first phase. The boat service on the Akkulam-Kadinamkulam stretch, which forms part of the commissioned section, is being launched as part of the ongoing development programme.
The project envisages upgrading existing canals with inadequate width and depth to State Waterway standards. Apart from facilitating water transport, the development is expected to expand tourism and cargo movement and create employment opportunities in allied sectors.
The programme also covers reconstruction of bridges, construction of boat jetties and cargo terminals, beautification of canal banks, development of canal-based industries and economic activities and creation of necessary supporting infrastructure wherever feasible.
The Inland Navigation Department is implementing projects for development of the waterway, reconstruction of bridges, construction of boat terminals, removal of encroachments from canal puramboke land and rehabilitation works under the West Coast Canal Rehabilitation Package.
A major component of the development is the rehabilitation of families affected by the widening and development of the canal. A total of 614 families in the Kadinamkulam and Thiruvananthapuram areas have been included in the rehabilitation package. Package amounts and rent have been fully paid to 482 families, while building valuation exceeding 90 per cent has been completed for 311 families. A total of Rs 71.87 crore has so far been spent for rehabilitation.
The 16.04-km Parvathy Puthanar, which passes through Thiruvananthapuram city, begins at Kovalam and ends at Akkulam Lake. A stretch of about 1.80 km at Panathura, which had a navigable width of around 100 metres, has been affected by encroachments and sea erosion.
The Inland Navigation Department is formulating projects to remove encroachments and increase the depth and width of the canal in the affected stretches as well as in the Poonthura-Akkulam section.
As part of the West Coast Waterway development, the Karikkakam steel lattice bridge across Parvathy Puthanar was reconstructed at a cost of Rs 3.4 crore in accordance with State Waterway standards.
The 6.51-km stretch of the West Coast Canal from Veli to Arattuvazhi was made navigable through four works implemented at a total cost of Rs 7.96 crore under the 2021-22 State fund.
In another major work, the 1.58-km Anakapilly-Channankara stretch was developed through two projects at a cost of Rs 8.58 crore. The canal was widened to 25 metres, while its sides were strengthened using pile-and-slab and gabion structures, making the stretch suitable for navigation.
Works are progressing on the 3.6-km stretch from Arattuvazhi to Anakapilly at an estimated cost of Rs 12.37 crore. The project includes construction of canal protection walls and increasing the depth and width of the canal.
The St Andrew's Bridge, which had been an obstruction to smooth boat movement, was reconstructed at a cost of Rs 12.75 crore in accordance with State Waterway standards and opened to traffic in 2026.
Two boat jetties were completed in the Kadinamkulam-Channankara area during 2022-23. A boat jetty at Channankara was constructed at a cost of Rs 70 lakh, while another near the Kadinamkulam police station was completed at a cost of Rs 64 lakh.
Land acquisition has also been undertaken for expanding the waterway infrastructure. Around 97 cents of land has been acquired by the Revenue Department and handed over for construction of a new boat terminal at Kovalam. The construction work is scheduled to commence shortly.
A Rs 25-crore project has been envisaged for reconstruction of the Arattuvazhi bridge connecting Kazhakkoottam and the coastal road in accordance with State Waterway standards. Steps are being taken to obtain approval for the project.
Several projects aimed at improving the efficiency of boat services and promoting tourism have also received administrative approval. These include a Rs 2.1-crore tourism amenity centre at Arattuvazhi, a Rs 78-lakh boat jetty at Veli, a Rs 4.2-crore boat terminal at Murukkumpuzha and a Rs 1.19-crore boat jetty at St Andrew's.
In addition, the State Government has earmarked Rs 200 crore in the 2026-27 Budget for construction of five boat jetties at Chacka, Karikkakam, Akkulam, Stationkadavu and Pallithura.
The rehabilitation programme covers densely populated areas affected by the canal development. Under the broader package, 425 families were initially identified for rehabilitation in the densely populated stretches, of whom 296 families were shifted after payment of the rehabilitation package and building valuation amounts. Steps are also being taken through the Revenue Department to acquire land for families having title deeds.
The development of the West Coast Waterway is being undertaken with the objective of creating an integrated inland transportation network while improving the standard of living and supporting overall development. Expansion of water transport is expected to provide an alternative transportation corridor, strengthen tourism and cargo movement and generate employment in sectors connected with the waterway.
The project also envisages development of boat terminals, jetties, bridges, canal-side areas and related infrastructure alongside canal widening and deepening, with the Inland Navigation Department carrying out the works in phases.
UNI DS
Tags: #Kerala’s 616-km West Coast Waterway development gathers pace
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