Kollam National Waterway III work in progress since 1993

Kollam: The Kollam - Kottappuram National Waterway III, proposed to facilitate the transshipment of cargo using cheaper means of transport, is still in limbo even 20 years after it was announced. The 205-km waterway comes under the administrative control of Inland Water Authority of India (IWAI).

Dredging work along the proposed waterway is only half way through with IWAI authorities “expecting” the national waterway to get inaugurated by the end of 2014. Notification for the West Coast Canal System termed ‘NW III’ was issued in 1993. IWAI has also constructed nine terminals along the NW at Kottappuram, Aluva, Maradu, Kayamkulam, Vaikkom, Thanneermukkom, Thrikkunappuzha, Alappuzha, and Kollam.

Round the clock navigational aids comprising buoys and solar operated LED lights will be provided along the entire stretch of NW III.

“Dredging work on about 80 km of the stretch has been completed so far. Work is on in many areas along the way. We are trying our best to complete the project by the end of 2014”,  said S. Sivaraman, Director IWAI, Kochi.

Work was also delayed because of labour problems, the issue of disposing the dredged slug and other administerial hiccups connected with local governing bodies. However, the National Waterway has opened up possibilities aplenty for freight and cargo transport, thereby averting the danger of transporting hazardous material like ammonia, petroleum and other chemicals through roads.

The State Government hopes that public sector undertakings including oil companies will use NW III to transport their consignments.