Back to overview
NW-3
West Coast Canal & Kerala Backwaters
India's first waterway with round-the-clock navigation facilities, running through Kerala's backwaters and serving industrial, passenger and tourism traffic.
KeralaWest Coast CanalUdyogmandal CanalChampakara Canal
Route
NW-3 Route Map
Key stops along the waterway corridor.
Kottapuramterminal
Kochiport
Alappuzhacity
Kollamterminal
Technical
Navigational Depth
Target depths by stretch. Values are project targets, not uniform across the entire waterway.
West Coast Canal (main corridor)
Not separately disclosed in official sources.
Not separately stated
Infrastructure
Facilities & Fixtures
Navigation, cargo handling, storage and connectivity infrastructure on this waterway.
Jetties and passenger landing facilities
Cargo terminals at Kottapuram, Kochi and Kollam
Berthing facilities for small barges
Industrial connectivity via Udyogmandal and Champakara canals
Tourism and houseboat connectivity
Navigation aids on developed stretches
Commodities
Cargo Transported
Major commodities moved on this waterway.
Industrial raw materialsFertilizer inputsBuilding materialsPetroleum products (selected movements)Passenger and tourism traffic
Development
Projects & Initiatives
Government projects and development programmes on this waterway.
West Coast Canal development
Development of the Kottapuram–Kollam corridor with fairway improvement, jetties and terminals; feeder canals connect industrial estates near Kochi.
SourceObstacles
Challenges
Key operational and structural challenges on this waterway.
Narrow sections and dense bank settlements
Weed growth (water hyacinth) obstructing channels
Low bridge clearances on canal sections
Competition for space with tourism and fishing