Proposed Extension of Waterways from Mahe to Valapattanam river BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED PROJECT Inland Water Transport (IWT) is a fuel efficient, environment friendly and cost effective mode of transport having potential to supplement the over burdened rail and congested roads Also with respect to freight rates, waterways have been always cheaper. Under these considerations, transformation of inland waterways into a regular mode of transportation is a great opportunity for any developing countries where cargo transits are key players in economic developments. The decision of developing the waterway in the entire length of the state is taken by Government of Kerala considering the potential of waterway in the freight movement,passenger movement and tourism. In pace with the central government, an initiative to enhance the potential of waterways both in cargo transit and tourism potentials associated with it, Government of Kerala has come for integration of the NW-3 by extending the southern stretch upto Kovalam from Kollam and northern stretch up to Kasaragod from Kozhikode. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) named Kerala Waterways and Infrastructure Ltd.(KWIL) was constituted by Government of Kerala and Cochin International Airport Ltd.( CIAL) with an objective to facilitate the development of Inland waterways from Kovalam to Kasaragod. The Mahe -Valapattanam stretch is the missing link in the backwater system running parallel Northern Kerala Coast and a hence, major obstacle to the inland navigation potential of the region. The proposed developmemt of Inland Waterways from Mahe river to Valapattanm river covers a distance of 51 km of which 26 km runs throught the existing water bodies and the rest 25 km needs an artifical cut. At present, this requirements has been falling in 3 stretches.The seamless connectivity of the West Coast Canal from Kovalam to Hosdurg is possible only if the connectivity is established between Mahe River and Valapattanam River connecting Eranjoli, Dharmadom and Anjarakandy river with three artificial cuts having length 9.2 km ,0.85 km and 15 km respectively. [Type text] Page 1 Proposed Extension of Waterways from Mahe to Valapattanam river The map showing the proposed alignment from Mahe to valapattanm river is shown in figure 1.1 below Figure 1.1 Map showing the proposed Alignment [Type text] Page 2 .