Kerala’s Water Route- Economical, Efficient, Easy

Kerala is blessed with abundant waterways which once served as the lifelines of the state, transporting goods and people easily and efficiently. However, in time roads and railways became more popular, and the navigable waterways fell into disuse. Today, our roads are clogged, railways overburdened, and the state is awakening once more to the potential of water transport as a route to move cargo and reduce the nightmarish congestion on roads. As a result, the government will be implementing a coastal management project that will connect all the minor ports in the state. Plans are also being laid to dredge the major canals and make them navigable once more. This should see a significant reduction of the congestion on roads. It will also be far more economical than widening the existing roadways or building new roads in the densely populated state.

Minor Ports, Major Development

Kerala’s Coastal Management Project has plans for developing six minor ports in a major way. The Ports are Azhikkal , Beyapore, Ponnani, Kudungalloor. Alappuzha and Kollam. Azhikkal, located near the estuary of the Valapattanam River, will become a full fledged port with ship repair facilities, after dredging and deepening operations are completed. Beypore, which shares cultural, emotional and historical bonds with Lakshdweep, will be developed as a hub port with an exclusive berth for handling cargo and passenger traffic from the island. The development of Ponnani port will be a big boost to industries in the Palakkad- Coimbatore region. Kodungalloor will become a hub port for tourism and maritime activities, with the emphasis on cruises and yatching. Alappuzha, which is already a major tourist spot, will get an additional boost as a cargo and marina port, while Kollam is poised to become the hub port of its flourishing cashew industry. In addition to these six ports, the Vizhinjam Deep Sea Container Terminal and the International Container Trans-shipment Terminal at Kochi will also play a key role in making Kerala a global hub for the movement of cargo. Kerala also has a network of inland waterways, and integration of coastal shipping with these canals is an important step towards realizing the full potential of the state’s abundant water resources.

Water Transport’s Winning Points

Water transport is economical when compared to road and rail transport as there is better fuel efficiency leading to lower unit transportation costs. Large volumes of goods can be moved more easily and and the absence of congestion on the waterways increases the safety factor too. It is estimated that more than 5 million tonnes of cargo can be diverted to coastal shipping if the required infrastructure is provided. Due to these advantages, some businesses have already started shifting to ships for transporting their cargo. There is no doubt that Kerala’s 590 km long coastline will witness a renaissance of shipping, as its inland waterways and the seventeen intermediate and non major ports, along with its major port Cochin, are all ready for the big leap- or rather surge- forward.