Waterway to be ready by Mar 2009: Baalu

Thiruvananthapuram, May 23 (UNI) Union Shipping and Road Transport Minister T R Baalu today said the National Waterway No 3 from Kochi to Kollam would be made fully functional by March 2009.

Talking to reporters after a review meeting of road and shipping sector projects in Kerala with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, he said an investment of Rs 71 crore was proposed for the purpose.

The fund mainly would be utilised for dredging the waterway and providing mechanized cargo handling terminals, he added.

Mr Baalu said the waterway system from Chettuva to Kottapuram would be connected for passenger and cargo movement in addition to the existing National Waterway.

Stating the main problem before the project was fishing nets and identification of place for disposing off dredged material, he said the state government had assured full support to overcome the issue.

The Centre had approved provision for two 2-line ROBs for Alappuzha Bypass on NH-47 at a cost of Rs 20 crore to commission this bypass, the Minister informed.

On the Vizhinjam Project, he said the government was not against any project in any particular state. The development would come in each and every part of the country hand-in-hand.

UNI