Kottapuram- Kollam stretch of West Coast canal (168 km) along with Champakara canal (14 km) and Udyogmandal canal (23 km) (totalling 205 km) were  declared as National Waterway-3 (NW-3) on February 1, 1993. The present status of development of  NW-3 is given below:

(i)     Navigable Channel

Navigable channel of minimum 38 meters bottom width in wider sections and 32 meters bottom width in narrow sections with minimum 2 meters depth has been developed and maintained in entire NW-3 except a small portion of 3.25 km where width is 12 meters.

(ii)Aids for 24 hours Navigation

The entire NW-3 in Kerala has been provided with navigation aids to facilitate 24 hours navigation.

(iii)     Cargo handling terminals

Cargo terminals have been set up at eight locations with safe berthing arrangement for inland vessels, storage go-downs, cargo handling equipment. These locations areKottapuram, Aluva Maradu(Kochi),  Vaikkom, Cherthala (Thanneermukkom) Thrikkunnapuzha,  Kayamkulam (Ayiramthengu) and Kollam. Construction is nearing completion at  the ninth  terminal at Alappuzha. In addition, for decongesting the Kochi city by providing an alternate transport route to International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), a pair of Ro-Ro terminals at Willingdon Island and Bolghatty have been provided.

 As per the study conducted for extension of West Coast Canal (National Waterway-3) by M/s NATPAC,  the viable stretch between Kottapuram to Kozhikode has been included for declaration as an extension of National Waterway-3 in the National Waterways Bill, 2015. The Bill has already been passed by the Lok Sabha in the Winter Session, 2015 and is expected to be taken up for consideration by Rajya Sabha during the Budget Session, 2016.

    This information was given by Minister of State for Shipping, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan in a      written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today. 

****

MA/NP/RS