Akkulam-Chettuva Waterway Will Be Linked to Vizhinjam Port: CM Pinarayi Vijayan

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that the Akkulam–Chettuva stretch of the West Coast Canal will be connected to the Vizhinjam International Seaport, paving the way for a multi-level logistics network in Kerala.

Inaugurating the Akkulam–Chettuva waterway — the first phase of the state’s ambitious West Coast Canal project — at Chilakur Beach Park in Varkala, the Chief Minister said the integration of inland waterways with the port would significantly reduce export and import costs while boosting investment opportunities.

“Industrial units, logistics hubs and food processing centres will emerge along the banks of the waterway,” he said, adding that the project would play a transformative role in the state’s development vision.

The Chief Minister noted that once the entire stretch from Kovalam to Bekal is completed, Kerala will have a continuous 616-km waterway corridor with immense tourism potential. The network, which connects ten districts, is aimed at enabling uninterrupted inland water travel and strengthening goods movement across the state.

He said the corridor would become a major attraction for tourists while also opening up substantial opportunities in cargo transport.

The government has spent ₹325 crore on the first phase of the project, of which ₹150 crore was allocated for rehabilitation measures. Safe housing has been ensured for around 580 affected families.

In Thiruvananthapuram district, 494 families are to be rehabilitated. Of these, 450 families have already accepted the government’s rehabilitation package, and the remaining families are expected to do so soon. The Chief Minister said the government is committed to implementing development projects through an inclusive approach that takes all stakeholders into confidence.

While acknowledging that large infrastructure projects may face obstacles, he stressed that withdrawing from or abandoning such initiatives is not the solution.

The waterway project is being overseen by Kerala Waterways Infrastructure Limited (KWIL), a special purpose company formed jointly by the state government and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the second phase of the project — the Chettuva–Bekal stretch — would be completed on schedule.