Kerala - Kochi   

Rs. 16.63 crore for inland waterway terminals

KOCHI: The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), has sanctioned Rs.16.63 crore to establish inland-waterway terminals at Bolgatty Island and Willingdon Island, in areas coming under the Cochin Port Trust, to link National Waterway-III with the Vallarpadam International Container Transshipment Terminal.

The project is expected to be completed by November 2009. Once complete, it will provide the necessary infrastructure for transporting container-laden lorries and trailers between Vallarpadam and Willingdon Island. It is expected that even if there is a delay of two to three months in completing the four-lane road that would connect Vallarpadam with Mamangalam on NH 47, the Ro-Ro (Roll on, Roll off) service (using which container-laden lorries would be transported through the waterways) will provide seamless connectivity between Vallarpadam and the National Highway network, through Willingdon Island.

The Ro-Ro service would give a boost for transportation of containers through the Kollam-Kottapuram National Waterway III. The waterway is at present grossly underutilized, despite being opened to traffic over a year ago. Once the terminals are ready, it will be possible to transport containers from Vallarpadam directly to Cherthala, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Kollam, thus reducing congestion on the roads.

It is proven worldwide that transportation through the waterways is much more economical and environment-friendly than those through roads. It is also highly energy efficient.

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