Kerala's inland waterways and shipping infrastructure are set to receive a major push, with efforts underway to operationalise the waterway from Kovalam (Thiruvananthapuram) to Bekal (Kasargod) to support cargo movement linked to the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Speaking at the Vizhinjam Conclave 2025 during a panel discussion titled Navigating the Future: Shipping, Logistics, and the New Supply Chain Revolution, R. Girija, managing director, Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC), highlighted several challenges and upcoming plans.
One key focus is the Akkulam-Chettuva stretch, which expects to become navigable within the next six months. While technically navigable from Kovalam to Bekal, the current water depth—ranging between 2 to 3.2 metres—remains a significant bottleneck, preventing the passage of larger barges.
Further obstacles include the restricted clearance through the Varkala tunnel in Thiruvananthapuram and the outdated lock system at Thrikkunnapuzha in Alappuzha district, which requires upgrading. Additionally, resettling about 1,000 families along the Akkulam -Kovalam route presents a socio-environmental challenge.
Despite these hurdles, Girija expressed optimism that National Waterway-3 could be fully operational by 2028.
Meanwhile, the Vizhinjam International Port has seen the initiation of customs operations, though on a limited scale. Customs Assistant Commissioner Gomathi IRS confirmed that their current role revolves around granting entry and exit clearance for ships.
However, connectivity issues related to the Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) system have raised concerns. Steps are reportedly being taken to address this, and additional staff will be deployed to bolster security measures at the port.
The session at the Vizhinjam Conclave saw participation from key industry leaders, including Captain Swaminathan Rajagopalan from CMA-CGM Agencies (India), Vijayakumar from Medlog Transport and Logistics, Lenny Abrao from Abrao Group, and Jeekshith Shetty of Bhavani Group, with T.K. Ram from Leschaco India moderating the discussions.