Thiruvananthapuram: The renovation of Chilakoor Tunnel in Varkala as part of the Akkulam-Chettuva Waterway is all set to impart a big thrust to water-based tourism in Kerala, besides marking the picturesque Chilakoor Beach as a riveting destination.
Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the first phase of Akkulam-Chettuva Water Way at Chilakoor Beach Park in Varkala on February 26, besides launching a string of tourism initiatives at Chilakoor Beach.
The tunnel renovation work has been carried out by Kerala Waterways Infrastructure Limited (KWIL), a joint venture of the state government and the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL). Chilakoor Tunnel is a 350-metre engineering marvel, designed to make possible the end-to-end inland navigation of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. The canal has been restored to navigable condition as part of the state government’s Inland Waterways development project.
Noting that the tunnel was a vital link in south Kerala’s inland navigation for passenger and freight movement in the past, Shri S Suhas, IAS, Director, KWIL, said the tunnel has now re-emerged as a landmark heritage destination. A boat jetty and a beach park are also being set up as part of the tourism initiatives of the area.
The 280-km Akkulam-Chettuva Water Way, passing through the entire coastal stretch of Kerala, is a major component of the state government’s flagship West Coast Canal Renovation project, which is set to accelerate Kerala’s sustainable and inclusive development by opening up immense opportunities in multiple sectors, including logistics and tourism.