The first phase of the Akkulam–Chettuva Waterway, a major segment of the state’s ambitious inland waterways initiative, is set to be inaugurated on February 26 by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The ceremony will take place at Chilakoor Beach Park in Varkala, marking a key milestone in efforts to enhance the region’s transport, tourism and logistics infrastructure.
Stretching around 280 km from Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram district to Chettuva in Thrissur, this first phase is part of the broader West Coast Canal Renovation Project, intended to modernise and connect Kerala’s inland water network across multiple districts.
The project — implemented by Kerala Waterways Infrastructure Limited (KWIL), a joint venture of the state government and Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) — aims to open navigable waterways for passenger boats, tourist services and cargo movement, boosting economic activity and offering a greener alternative to road transport.
Alongside the waterway’s inauguration, the state government will also unveil new tourism infrastructure under the Chilakoor Tourism Project, as well as several development works completed by the Inland Navigation Department.
Officials and industry observers say that the revived inland waterway could help spur growth in tourism, improve connectivity between urban and rural areas, and support more efficient transport of goods across the state’s extensive network of canals, rivers and backwaters.
The waterway forms part of Kerala’s larger vision to strengthen its inland navigation corridor and is expected to attract boat operators and tourists alike once fully operational.
