Discussions have already been held with officials of the Inland Waterways Department, which has reportedly extended full support to the proposal. Port authorities believe the initiative could transform Kottayam’s logistics landscape by facilitating smoother cargo movement, reducing road congestion and attracting export cargo from neighbouring states.     Under the proposed plan, container-laden barges would travel through National Waterways 9 and 3, reaching Valiyazheekkal before entering the Arabian Sea through the Thrikunnapuzha–Kayamkulam Lake route and proceeding to Vizhinjam.     Kottayam Port is located near National Waterway 9, which connects through the Munroe Island and Marthandam Kayal stretches to National Waterway 3, the Kollam–Kottapuram waterway. The proposed route would continue through the Pamba River, via Ambalappuzha, Thottappally and Thrikunnapuzha, before reaching Kayamkulam Lake and the Valiyazheekkal estuary.     The distance between Kottayam and Vizhinjam is approximately 180 km, and the journey is expected to take between 12 and 14 hours.     A key infrastructure development supporting the project is the planned installation of a larger lock system at the Thrikunnapuzha bridge by December. This is expected to enable container barges to navigate the waterway more smoothly. The route reportedly has a navigable depth of around two metres along its stretch, making it suitable for barge operations.     The Inland Waterways Department has also reportedly indicated its willingness to provide space near Valiyazheekkal for container storage, an important requirement for establishing an efficient cargo-handling and transfer system.     The proposed corridor could offer exporters and logistics operators an alternative to road-based transportation, improving connectivity between Kerala’s inland cargo centres and the southern international shipping gateway at Vizhinjam.     A meeting with Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan is expected to take place shortly to discuss the proposal. The Chief Minister has reportedly expressed considerable interest in port development.   

 If implemented as planned, the Kottayam–Vizhinjam waterway corridor could strengthen multimodal logistics connectivity in Kerala, reduce pressure on highways and create new opportunities for regional trade and exports.