The Hindu Business Line : National Waterways-III to be opened to cargo traffic fully

CONSIDERING the increasing cargo movement in National Waterways III, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has taken steps to make the Kollam-Kottappuram stretch fully operational by March.

The movement of cargo through NW-III has gone up to 12.62 lakh tonnes against 11.88 lakh tonnes in 2002-03. Majority of the cargo comprised fertiliser meant for FACT from Kochi Port.

In view of this, IWAI has proposed to spend Rs 65 crore to widening and deepening of the channel by 2010.

Senior officials of IWAI said a total of 37 lakh cubic metres of capital dredging would be required to meet the standards of navigation. So far, around 26 lakh cubic metres of dredging had been carried out at a cost of Rs 11 crore. However, the average width of the channel has to be increased between 32 and 38 metres and the depth by 2.2 metres.

According to officials, a 12-km stretch between Alappuzha and Kollam has to be developed before the entire NW-III was thrown open to cargo traffic. For widening the channel in this area, IWAI had acquired 21 hectares of land at a cost of Rs 10 crore. The authority is also planning to set up an inland container depot at Kottayam, which had a projected potential of up to 1,200 containers per month.

IWAI also initiated steps to set up seven cargo jetties in the waterways by the end of March.

These jetties were in Kottappruam, Aluva-Eloor, Ernakulam-Maradu, Vaikom, Thanneermukkam, Thrikkunnappuzha and Kayamkulam. The Alappuzha, Kollam and Chavara jetties, along with a proposed jetty near the Cochin Special Economic Zone are also being readied for operation. The authority has acquired 10 hectares of land at a cost of Rs 10 crore to construct jetties, which are being built by the Central Public Works Department, the officials said.

IWAI had recently organised a seminar here on private sector participation on joint venture basis for acquisition, operation and management of cargo vessels on National Waterways.

Speaking at the seminar, the officials pointed out that the Authority had to find ways to develop cargo carrying capacity after putting in place facilities such as cargo terminals. The NW-III had inherent strengths that made it attractive to investors and the IWT should be viewed as an integrated transport system that offered immense scope for investment.

IWAI has also initiated a drive across the country to attract private investments for the development of inland waterways and is ready to pitch in up to 40 per cent in joint venture with private partners for vessels acquisition, the officials said.

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