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1. Neeleswaram to Kottappuram 348 Km INFRASTRUCTURE
2. Kottappuram to Kollam (NW III) 168 Km
3. Kollam to Kovalam
74 Km

5.64 The canal portion from Thiruvananthapuram to Ponnani and then along Bharathappuzha river

upto Shornur is known as Thiruvananthapuram – Shornur Canal (TS Canal). As part of a programme

for developing Waterways by the central Government, length of 168 Km of Waterway from Kollam to

Kottappuram of West Coast Canal including Udyogamandal and Champakara Canals were declared

as National Waterway No. III. comes under our state , foundation and developmental works are duly

called out by IWAI. The canals coming under National Waterway III are as follows .

1. Kollam- Kottapuram - 168 Km

2. Udyogamandal - 23 Km

3. Champakara - 14 Km

Total - 205 Km

5.65 National Waterway from Kollam to Kottappuram is navigable . the reach from Kottappuram to
Beypore is partially navigable in different stretches.The stretch from Beypore to Vadakara at present
is not fully navigable .The reach from Vadakara to Mahe is to be totally constructed. Total cargo
movement throgh National Waterway - III during 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 were 13.44, 12.36and
10.66 lakh tons respectively, comprisng of Phosphoric, Sulphur, Zinc, Rock Phosphate, Furnece
Oil etc. This shows a dicresing tendency for lastthree years with 13.78 % decreace in 2013 -14 as
compared to the previous year. The main rout of cargo movement is from Cochin port to FACT.

5.66 Government agencies engaged in the development of Inland Water Transport in the State are
State Water Transport Department (SWTD) , Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd.
(KSINC) and Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department (CSIND) .

State Water Transport Department

5.67 This department was formed in 1968 with Headquartes at Alappuzha . During 2013-14 Kerala
State Water Transport department obtained Govt. Sanction for purchasing 3 nos of Passenger –
Cum –Vehicle carrier steel boats ,1 solar powered passenger boat and purchase of 5 Rescue boats.
As compared to the previous year number of trips increased the number of passengers decreased
,but total revenue receipts increased due to tourism oriented boat service started from Alappuzha to
Kollam . 97 boats were operated with 2,75,210 trips during 2013-14. Details of operational statistics
of this department are shown in Appendix 5.23.

Box 5.7
Main achievements of State Water Department

• Purchase and installation of 7 bio toilets
• Purchase of 25.39 M3 of Teak wood from Forest Department .
• 90% of the construction work of Slipways at Ponjikkara, Alappuzha & Ayitti, Kazargod is

over.
• Dry dock facility at Alappuzha was errected.
• Chemical toilets are introduced in service boats.
• Bio toilets are introduced and installed in 7 selected boat jetties .
• Sufficient number of life jackets were installed in service boats.

Economic Review 2014