There are mainly three requirements for successful navigation on Inland Waterways. These are i) navigable fairways for movement of inland vessels, ii) Aids to navigation for safe navigation and iii) Terminals for loading/ unloading of cargo at various locations along the waterway. The present of these facilities on NW-3 is as given below:
Navigable Fairway:
A navigational channel of 38m width in wider reaches and 32m in narrow reaches with 2 m depth is to be developed for navigation in NW-3.To develop the navigation channel with above dimensions, 40 Lakh cu.m capital dredging was envisaged over a length of about 87 Km. As on March 2024, IWAI has carried out dredging nearly 85 km shoal length. With this, the targeted depth of two meters has been provided in the entire NW-3, except widening of the navigation channel to the required width of 32 meters is yet to be completed in a length of 1.20 km near Chavara (Edapallykota-Kollam stretch).
Features
| Date of declaration | February, 1993 |
| NW-3 consists of | |
| West coast canal (Kottapuram – Kollam) | 168 km |
| Udyogmandal canal (Kochi Pathalam bridge) | 23 km |
| Champakara canal (Kochi – Ambalamugal) | 14 km |
| Total length | 205 km |
| Sea opening- 4 nos | Munambam, Kochi, Kayamkulam and Neendakara |
| Tidal influence | About 0.70 m to 1.00 m rise during high tide |
| Obstacles | Lock gates at Thanneermukkom, and Thrikunnapuzha |
| Narrow portions | Alappuzha Kollam stretch |
Terminals
Out of total 11 locations envisaged for setting up of terminals, eight have already been constructed at Kottapuram, Aluva, Maradu (Kochi), Vaikkom, Cherthala (Thanneermukkom), Thrikunnapuzha, Kayamkulam (Ayiram Thengu) and Kollam. Construction of Alappuzha terminal was completed in July 2014.
Terminals at remaining two locations namely Kakkanadu and Chavara are proposed to be constructed in the next phase after firming up the cargo availability. For effective utilization and to encourage private sector participation, operation and maintenance of IWT terminals at Aluva, and Vaikkom have been outsourced to KSWC (A Govt. of Kerala Undertaking).
In addition, to decongest Kochi city by providing an alternate transport route for the Vallarpadam container terminal, IWAI has set up a pair of Ro-Ro terminals at Willingdon island and Bolghatty jointly with the Cochin Port Trust. The transportation of containers along this route is being carried out successfully since February 2011.
| DETAILS OF TERMINAL FACILITIES IN NW-3 | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| As on June 2018 | |||||||||||
| Sl.No. | Terminal Location | Area acquired (in Hectare) | Length & Type of Jetty | Storage Facilities | Drinking Water facilities | Power supply facilities | Mechanical handling equipments / facilities | Status of approach channel | Tel. Facilities | Status of approach road | Remarks |
| 1 | Kottapuram | 0.5823 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 800 sqm open storage. | Available | Available | – | Approach channel is available and duly marked with buoys and lights | Not Available | Available | The Terminal building is leased out to Kerala State Warehousing Corporation w.e. from June 2018 |
| 2 | Aluva | 1.331 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 1500 sqm open storage. | Available | Available | 2 Nos. 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Approach channel is available and duly marked with buoys and lights | Not Available | Approach road is available. | -do- |
| 3 | CEPZ (Kakkanadu) | 1.2234 | 10 m wide RCC temporary Jetty | only land available | Not Available | Available | – | Channel is duly marked with buoys and lights. | Not Available | Approach road is available. | Part of land is leased to KMRL and Passanger facility is created and in operational. |
| 4 | Maradu | 2.0268 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 2000 sqm office area. | Available | Available | 3Nos. 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & 3 Nos. 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Approach channel is available and duly marked with buoys and lights | Available | Approach road is available. Acquisition of land for widening of approach road for 8 mtr width is completed. | Road work entrusted to NHAI. |
| 5 | Vaikkom | 0.5184 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 1200 sqm open storage. | Available | Available | One 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Approach channel is available and duly marked with buoys and lights | Not Available | Approach road is available. | KSWC has shifted their location to Aluva. |
| 6 | Thannermukkom | 0.917 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 1800 sqm open storage. | Available | Available | One 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Approach channel is available and duly marked with buoys and lights | Not Available | Approach road is available. | |
| 7 | Alappuzha | 2.255 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 2500 sqm open storage. | Terminal is under construction through CPWD and expected to be completed by September 2018. | Not Available | Approach road is available. | ||||
| 8 | Thrikunnappuzha | 0.5057 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 800 sqm open storage. | 300 Sq.m | 800 Sq.m | One 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Available | Not Available | One 18 T Capacity Mobile Hydraulic Crane & One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | |
| 9 | Kayamkulam (Ayiramthengu) | 1.6304 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 300 sqm covered godown & 1600 sqm open storage. | Not Available | Available | – | Channel is duly marked with buoys and lights. | Not Available | Approach road is available. | |
| 10 | Chavara | 0.8061 | Land only | Not Available | Not Available | – | Channel is duly marked with buoys and lights. | Not Available | Approach road is available. | ||
| 11 | Kollam | 0.6208 | 30 m Long Berth (RCC Jetty) | 270 sqm covered godown & 3500 sqm open storage. | Available | Available | One 3 T Capacity Forklift available. | Channel is duly marked with buoys and lights | Available | Approach road is available. | The Terminal godown is leased out to Kerala State Warehousing Corporation from April 2018 |
| Ro – Ro / Lo – Lo Jetties | |||||||||||
| 1 | Bolgatty Island (CoPT land-on lease) | – | Container terminal | Nil | No | Yes | Nil | Good | Not Available | Good | |
| 2 | Willingdon Island (CoPT land-on lease) | – | Container terminal | Nil | No | Yes | Nil | Good | Not Available | Good | |
| 9 | Bogibeel | Floating terminal with steel pontoon. | For handling of FCI cargo. | (i) Tourist cum cargo IWT construction in progress. (ii) Tourist RCC floating jetty construction in progress. (iii) Food grains has already been transported and experienced. | |||||||
| 10 | Dibrugarh | Floating terminal with a steel pontoon | For handling of cargo vessels, local ferry service. ODC cargo is also expected at this terminal in view of upcoming hydro power project. | A DGPS station is established. | |||||||
| 11 | Sengajan/ Panbari | Floating terminal with a crane pontoon | Considered in view of regular movement of Indian army IWT fleet. | At this location floating terminal is being maintained in view of movement of Indian Army vessels between Arunachal and Assam. | |||||||
| 12 | Oriumghat | Floating steel pontoon | To facilitate passengers connected to Arunachal /Assam, BSF / Army and link to southern bank like Dibrugarh. ODC and project cargo. | (i) Land acquisition completed. (ii) Other developmental activities are planned. | |||||||