Potential of the West Coast Canal system in transforming Kerala

1. Inland Waterways of Kerala –
Unlocking the Potential
Coastal Shipping and IWT Business Forum
2015
Dr. V. K. Baby IAS
Special Secretary, Government of Kerala

2. Vision

3. Vision
• Green, sustainable, safe inter-modal transport
• Make the entire West Coast canal system
navigable with feeder canals (EU and
Scandinavian model) – phased approach
• Tourism passenger and freight movement – hop-
on hop off spa, ayurveda, local cuisine, art,
culture and tourism destinations
• Elevated expressway on side of West coast canal
linking ports, airports and state capitals, part of
golden quadrilateral- Mangalore to Cape

4. Financing
• PPP – BOOT; BOT; crowd funding;
Infrastructure Development Fund from
NRKs/NRIs
• Multi-modal logistic parks in PPP mode
• Inter-modal hubs also can develop as
commercial hubs
• Develop first mile connectivity
• Feasible tourist stretches

5. GoK Enabling Initiatives
• GoK is positive to PPPs and private
investments - consider viability gap funding
• Fiscal and policy support
• Transport subsidy for IWT on the anvil
• Incentivize and regulate bulk and over
dimensional cargo thru’ waterways
• Operator freedom in handling cargo

6. Inland
Waterways
of
Kerala
Connectivity
Ports: 20984 LMT- in 2015
LMT- 33262 LMT in 2030
Kochi; Vizhinjam; Beypore;
Azhikkal & Kollam
ICCTs:
Kochi; Vizhinjam
Airports
Kannur; Kozhikkode; Kochi,
Trivandrum
Ship Yard: Kochin and other
minor yeards
Dist Capitals: 11
Tourism Destinations
Kovalam; Varkala,
Alappuzha, Kochi, Kannur
and Kasaragod

7. • Kerala has 1548 km of navigable waters with
840 km of rivers and 708 km of calnals
• Highest inand water vessels in India 9060 in
2006-07
• NW-3 handle 13.44 lakh tonnes of cargo in
2011-12

8. I- Kovalam (0.00) to Kollam (74.180)

9. II – Kollam (74.18) to Kottappuram (242.18)

10. III- Kottappuram (248.18) to Beypore (398.81)

11. IV- Beypore (398.81)- Mahe River ends (479.18)

12. V- Mahe River end (479.18) to Neeleswaram (595.43)