As debates rage across Kerala about the environmental impact of the proposed SilverLine semi high speed rail project, an environmental friendly and economical option to travel from the northernmost district of Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram at the southern end is quitely getting ready.
Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan assures that The National Waterways 3 or the West Coast Canal which facilitates hassle free travel from the northern end of the state to the state capital at the southern end is likely to become a reality in the near future. As part of the waterway a 168 kilometre-long Kollam-Kottappuram waterway development has already been completed. The chief minister explained the steps being taken at present to complete the remaining part.
The development of the waterway was a promise of the LDF government that came to power in 2016. But they haven’t been able to fulfil the promise in 2021 when the term of the government’s term ended. Currently, as Pinarayi has been returned to power, he says the waterway will soon be completed.
DPR for Kottappuram-Kozhikode stretch development
The Inland Waterways Authority of India has prepared the detailed project report (DPR) for widening and developing the National Waterway-3 from Kottappuram to Kozhikode as per national waterway standards, said the chief minister. Development work will start after the DPR gets the approval of the union government. A navigation lock-cum-bridge will be built across the waterway at Veliyamkode, near Ponnani in Malappuram district. This is being constructed with the aid of NABARD. The tender process for the construction has already been initiated.
At the southern end of the National Waterway beyond Kollam, 1275 families have to be evicted and rehabilitated for widening the canal from Varkala at the border of Kollam district to Kovalam, south of Thiruvananthapuram city. Administrative sanction has been granted for a Rs 247.2 crore rehabilitation project for those who would be evicted, said the chief minister.
Meanwhile, in principle sanction has been given for developing Conolli Canal which is a part of Kozhikode to Bekal (Kasaragod) stretch of the national waterways. The project which is estimated to cost Rs 1118 crore will be developed with the financial aid of Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). A new canal of 26.5 kilometres needs to be constructed at Mahe-Valapatanam stretch. A sum of Rs 650 crore has been sanctioned through KIIFB for acquiring land for constructing the canal.
At Thiruvananthapuram, the Coastal Development Corporation has been entrusted with construction of flats for those who will be evicted as part of the widening of Parvathy Puthenar.
Of the 328-kilometre long Kollam-Kozhikode strech, 168-kilometre long Kollam-Kottappuram (near Kodungallur in Thirussur) stretch has been completed, said Mr. Pinarayi. A walking bridge is being constructed at Kovilthottam near Chavara in Kollam. Steps to acquire land have been initiated at Kovilthottam. A navigation lock-cum-bridge is being built at Thrikkunnappuzha in Alappuzha district. The construction there is being undertaken under the leadership of Inland Waterways Authority of India.
