Economic corridor of national waterway; Akkulam-Kollam reach, draft outline completed

KOLLAM: In the project to convert the waterway from Kovalam to Bekal into an economic corridor, the draft outline has been completed for the development of the reach from Akkulam to Ashtamudi Kayal in Kollam. The objective of the Economic Corridor Project is to expand passenger services, cargo movement, and tourism through waterways so that new commercial and industrial enterprises can grow along the coasts. The draft was prepared by HLL. The draft document will be scrutinized and finalized under the leadership of the implementing agency, Kerala Waterways Infrastructures Limited.

KIIFB will bear at least half of the total cost. The plan is to raise the balance through private investment.

Length of the waterway - 616 km

Construction - As 13 reaches

Important instructions in the draft outline

• Hydrogen and solar plants along waterways to avoid fossil fuels.
• Boat building repair center, boat jetties, cargo terminals.
• Solid waste- coir processing centers, pavement.
• Agri tourism in Edava.
• Fish park in Perumatura for manufacturing and marketing of value-added products.
• Recreational boat service at Varkala Chilakkoor.
• Capitalizing on the potential of the Kazhakoottam Technopark, MICE Tourism in Kadhamkulam along with convention centers for entrepreneurs and professionals to meet.
• Cultural tourism with the exhibition of various art forms at Golden Island where the Vamanapuram river joins Anchuthengu backwater.
• Vaytila ​​model multimodal transit hub at Paravur, which has a railway station and a bus stand adjacent to the waterway.