National Waterways 3

Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has developed a network of inland water transport (IWT) terminals along National Waterway–3 to facilitate efficient movement of cargo and passengers and to support multimodal logistics. These terminals provide essential infrastructure for loading and unloading operations, cargo aggregation, and last-mile connectivity, thereby enhancing the operational efficiency of the waterway.

The terminals on NW-3 are strategically located along the West Coast Canal, Champakkara Canal, and Udyogmandal Canal, and include cargo terminals as well as Ro-Ro terminals developed in coordination with the Cochin Port Authority. Several terminals are operational, while operation and maintenance of select facilities have been outsourced to state agencies to encourage private participation and improve utilization of inland waterways for sustainable transport.
 

To ensure safe, reliable, and round-the-clock navigation for cargo vessels, passenger ferries, Ro-Ro services, tourist vessels, and mechanised country boats, IWAI has provided comprehensive navigation facilities along National Waterway–3. These facilities support day and night navigation across the West Coast Canal, Champakkara Canal, and Udyogmandal Canal, thereby enabling efficient inland water transport operations in Kerala.

The navigation infrastructure on NW-3 includes solar-powered lighted buoys, beacon lamp posts, channel markers, and regular hydrographic surveys, maintained to meet the requirements of a Class-III waterway. The entire navigable stretch has been equipped with aids to navigation to facilitate safe vessel movement under varying tidal, monsoon, and traffic conditions.

To support 24×7 navigation, IWAI maintains a robust system of Aids to Navigation (AToN) across the waterway. A total of 312 solar-powered lighted FRP buoys and 17 beacon lamp posts have been deployed and are being maintained along the Champakkara Canal, Udyogmandal Canal, and Kottapuram–Kollam (West Coast Canal) stretches of NW-3. These navigation aids play a critical role in channel marking, hazard identification, and safe vessel movement under varying tidal, weather, and traffic conditions, thereby enhancing operational reliability and safety on the waterway.

To support efficient inland water transport operations and multimodal cargo movement in Kerala, the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), in coordination with the Cochin Port Authority, has developed container-handling jetty facilities on National Waterway–3. These jetties primarily serve Ro-Ro and container traffic and provide an alternative inland water route to decongest urban road networks in Kochi.

On NW-3, container terminals at Willingdon Island and Bolgatty Island, developed on Cochin Port Authority (CoPT) land taken on lease, facilitate the movement of containers and vehicles between port-connected locations through inland waterways. These jetties are supported by reliable power supply and well-maintained approach channels and roads, enabling smooth cargo handling operations and strengthening last-mile connectivity with the port ecosystem.