Infrastructure

Inland Water Transport

Inland Water Transport (IWT) is a fuel efficient and environment friendly mode of transportation. IWT for passenger and freight movement involves lower operating costs and environmental pollution than road, rail or air options. It could relieve pressure on the other modes of transport. The global experience offers interesting comparisons. In several countries, IWT accounts for a substantial share of inland transportation as a per centage of the total: 32 per cent in Bangladesh, 20 per cent in Germany, 14 per cent in the U.S. and 9 per cent in China. In China, much of the increase has occurred in recent decades in tandem with its phenomenal industrial-agricultural growth. By contrast, in India only 0.4 per cent of domestic surface transport is accounted for by IWT compared with 68 per cent by road and 30 per cent by rail even though India is richly endowed with navigable waterways.

The Inland water transport in Kerala includes rivers and backwaters. This has played a major role in the transportation, right from the olden days. Inland waterways has got its own natural advantages compared to the railways and roadways. There are 41 rivers in Kerala that flows towards west clubbed with numerous backwaters. All these are part of the inland water transport system having a length of approx. 1895 km. It is the inland canals that connect the rivers from one to another. Important places which are commercially important are situated on the banks of these rivers. The West Coast Canal (WCC) system which has a length of about 560 kms starts from Kovalam in the south and extends up to Hosdurg in the north. Of this, the Kollam- Kottapuram stretch (168 km) is already declared as National Waterway-3 with effect from 1993. (NW-3) along with Champakkara (14 km) and Udyogamandal canals (23 km) is almost made fully functional. Recently Central Government has declared the extension of NW-3 between Kottapuram and Kozhikode (160 km) as national waterway. Besides, four canals viz. Alapppuzha- Changanassery (28 km) , Alappuzha- Kottayam- Athirampuzha (38 km) and Kottayam- Vaikom (42 km) have also been declared as national waterway by Central Government in April, 2016.

Government agencies engaged in the development of Inland Water Transport in the State are Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department (CSIND), State Water Transport Department (SWTD) and Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd. (KSINC). An amount of 13,339 lakh, 10,925 lakh, 14,342 lakh , 15,542 lakh and 15,734 lakh are earmarked as plan oulay for this sector during 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2015-16and 2016-17 respectively.

State Water Transport Department

The State Water Transport Department caters to the traffic needs of the inhabitants of the waterlogged areas of the Districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, Kollam, Ernakulam, Kannur and Kasargod. Even through the Department is a commercial Department, the functioning of this Department is like a service Department. Ever since ‘Transportation’ came under “Essential Service”, this Department has taken shape of an Essential Service Department. The Department transports about 150 lakhs of passengers per annum using wooden/steel and fibre Glass Passenger Boats.

The State Water Transport Department was formed in the year 1968, with its Head Quarters (Directorate) in the District of Alappuzha. The Director is the Head of the Department.Initially, the service operation was only in the Districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam & Kollam. Later the functions and activities were extended to the Districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam (Chaganacherry) and Kasargod by establishing an office for the Mechanical Engineer and three Regional Offices headed by Senior Superintendents. Now the Department has fourteen Stations Offices. Presently the department operates 51 schedules per day including tourism services. Approximately 40,000 people use their service every day. It operates vehicle carrier (Two-wheeler) boats in ferry services. The operating distance per day is 700 km approximately.

Major Achievements of State Water Transport Department for 2015-16

• Constructed a dry dock with modern equipment for speedy repair and maintenance of all kind of boats.
• Solar powered passenger boat, which is first in India, Catamaran Double hull and single hull vessels are the on-going projects.
• Started Parassini- Mattool, Ernakulam- Varappuzha and Vyttila –Kakkanad services.
• Alappuzha-Kumarakam-Kottayam and Vaikom-Ernakulam A/C tourist services are the new services which are to commence in the nearest future

The details of operational statistics of State Water Transport Department are shown in Appendix 5.23

Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd.

The Corporation was formed in 1989 by the statutory amalgamation of Kerala Inland Navigation Corporation Ltd. (KINCO) and Kerala Shipping Corporation Limited (KSC), both Government of Kerala Companies. KSINC is the pioneer in inland navigation, coastal shipping and water based tourism and leisure activities in Kerala. It started mechanized cargo transport in the inland waterways back in 1980’s and started oil bunkering in the 1990s. It also operated coastal shipping activities in 1999.Presently KSINC is engaged in cargo transportation, bunker supplies, tourism construction and repair of vessels.

KSINC is also operating a Slipway at Thoppumpady, Cochin, leased from the Cochin Port Trust since 1991.Apart from construction and repair of own vessels, the company is also executing construction and repair of vessels for various government agencies like State Water Transport Department, Port Department, Cochin Port Trust, Central Institute of Fisheries Department, Poompuhar Shipping corporation Ltd and other private agencies.

The Corporation at present has fleet strength of seven barges carrying various cargo, two tourist boats and two Jhankars. KSINC was the pioneer in transporting imported industrial fertilizer, raw materials such as Rock Phosphate, Sulphur and phosphoric acid to FACT, Cochin Division and Udyogmandal Division through waterways.

As the boat services became unviable the company has stopped passenger boats operation. However, as opportunities began to emerge with new developments, they are planning to enter the sector again. For this purpose 4 high speed boats for operation in Cochin is under construction. A 200 passenger capacity mini cruise ship is under construction for tourist operation. A 500MT cargo barge is under construction for bulk raw materials. The operational statistics of KSINC are shown in Appendix 5.23.

Coastal Shipping and Inland Navigation Department

The main State Inland Canal schemes in the State are implemented through this department. During 2015-16, under Inland Canal Schemes, deepening and side protection to the Tanoor- Kootayi Canal for 5.45 crore was completed. Development of TS canal from Eravipuram Kayal to Ashtamudi Kayal (Kollamthodu) is progressing. Development of feeder canal connecting Kannetti Kayal at Karunagapally to National Waterway was completed from the grants received from the 13th Finance Commission. Mechanical works including purchase of water hyacinth harvester, replacement of locks, rejuvenation of dredgers for 2.88 crore are completed, formation of Vatakara Mahe canal in reach 2, 3 and 4 are progressing, renovation work of three reaches of PC canal in Malapuram district are completed. Improvements to feeder canals to NW3 and waterways are nearing completion in Kottayam and Kannur Districts and these projects have been undertaken using assistance from NABARD.

Inland Water Transport is one of the most environmental friendly modes of transport because of low fuel usage and ability to carry in bulk thereby reducing pollution and congestion. The main constraint in the development of water transport is the conflict of interest between traditional fish- er folks and navigation operation, friction between Road-IWT operators, insufficient navigation lock/bridge clearances, lack of maintenance of navigation system and bank protection, lack of modern inland craft terminals and cargo handling system, lack of end user incentivisation, delay in project execution and poor fund utilization. Keeping in mind the constraints facing IWT, and recognizing its potential for growth, there is a need for reduction in cost and time of transportation and enhancement of the safety and reliability of cargo. To achieve this, the thrust should be on the creation of infrastructure in the form of fairways, with adequate depth and width, besides the setting up of terminals. There is also a need to augment the IWT fleet, with suitable vessels. Private investment should be attracted for the development of this mode through suitable incentives. In short in order to make the sector more effective, there is a need to create adequate infrastructure facilities, simplify customs procedures and provide necessary fiscal incentives for the development of the sector.