Kerala plans to start electric boat service through Parvathy Puthanar ahead of Onam
Rekindling old memories, the Parvathy Puthanar canal, a part of Kerala’s ambitious 616-km Kovalam–Bekal West Coast Canal (WCC) Waterway project, is set for revival ahead
Rekindling old memories, the Parvathy Puthanar canal, a part of Kerala’s ambitious 616-km Kovalam–Bekal West Coast Canal (WCC) Waterway project, is set for revival ahead of Onam, with the State government preparing to launch a passenger boat service. The initiative, aimed at serving both commuters and tourists, will be rolled out by the Transport department in the first half of August with the introduction of a solar-powered boat service. Speaking to The Hindu, Transport Minister C.P. John said preparations for launching the boat service are in the final stage, and the department is hopeful that a specially designed electric boat operated by Cochin International Seaport, and equipped with advanced onboard facilities, will begin operations before Onam.
The service, which will commence from Veli, will cover a distance of around 10 to 20 km through the canal, offering passengers, including tourists, a glimpse of the capital’s rural landscape. However, extending the service up to Kollam will take time, according to officials associated with the waterway project, as a portion of the recently renovated Varkala tunnel sustained damage, making it difficult to operate services through the tunnel. However, boat services can be operated up to Anchuthengu or the Chilakoor tunnel, which was recently renovated as part of the first phase of the Akkulam–Chettuva Waterway project and inaugurated by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in February.
Rehabilitation The recent change of guard in the State administration has also affected the progress of the WCC project, with uncertainty surrounding the completion of the remaining works. A bill amounting to around ₹24 crore for rehabilitating families living along the banks of the Parvathy Puthanar remains pending with the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), after the State government decided to review the resource mobilisation strategy adopted by the agency. However, the Transport department remains hopeful of taking the water transport project forward, as the canal is now navigable. The man-made canal, named after the erstwhile Travancore queen Parvathi Bai and constructed in the 18th century as a waterway in the former Travancore kingdom, was recently dredged and made navigable as part of the State government’s West Coast Canal project.
However, regular dredging and the removal of water hyacinths will be essential to ensure the smooth operation of the boat service. Unlike traditional diesel-powered boats, the solar-powered electric boat produces neither loud noise nor vibrations, making it environment-friendly and expected to have minimal impact on the aquatic life in the canal.
The BriefWire