With the development of waterways, a multi-model integrated transport system can be implemented at the Vyttila mobility hub and the Thiruvananthapuram airport, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) managing director Tom Jose has said. He was speaking at the session ‘Multimodal Integration of Transportation Systems with a Financial Perspective’ at the Infrastructure Conference here on Friday.
“With the commencement of water transportation through the Kadambrayar and the realisation of the Kochi metro, the Vyttila mobility hub will be developed as an integrated transport system. In the same way, the Thiruvananthapuram airport region can be developed by starting water transport through Parvathi Puthanar canal and renovating the roads to the airport. Integrated transport system is essential for comprehensive urban development,” he said. He added that cooperation among various departments is the key to implement a multimodal integrated transport system in the state.
Pointing out the importance of developing water transport in the state, R M Nair, former member (technical), of the Inland Waterways Authority of India, said that the optimum mix of road, rail, waterways, air transport and ship, is the need of the hour. “By using water transport, the loading, travelling, unloading and waiting time for cargo movement can be reduced. The traffic conjunction can also be reduced. The waterways, which are linked to the sea, are available along a stretch of 600 kms in the state which is a great advantage. This mode of transportation is cost effective, less time consuming and it assures safety,” he said.
Presenting ‘Vision 2020’ for the water transport sector in the state, Nair said that the 205-km Kollam-Kottappuram waterway is crucial for development.
“It can be later extended to the Kollam-Kovalam and the Kottappuram-Kasargod waterways for about 600 kms. Apart from this, the Kottayam-Alappuzha, Kottayam-Vaikom and the Alappuzha-Changanassery waterways can be developed as tourism routes,” he said.
Minister K C Joseph said that the delay in the implementation of various projects is plaguing the state.