Water Transport Department

Kerala is a land with abundant water bodies. Backwater is a wonderful gift of nature to the God's Own country. Ashtamudy and Vembanadu lake which completes the network of waterways not only provides natural beauty but inland navigation facilities also.   State Water Transport Department is the main agency who provides inland water transport facilities to the people residing in the water logged areas and to enjoy the everlasting memory of backwaters. This inland Water Transport system consists of 1895 kms of waterways. This include navigable river, backwaters and man made cross canals. Most of these are in Travancore-Cochin region. Of the 44 rivers in Kerala, the 41 west flowing rivers together with back waters and man made canals form the integral part of inland navigation system.

State Water Transport Department formed during 1968 with the objectives to provide Transport facilities to the people residing in the water logged areas at cheaper rates and Cargo transportation. Construction of roads, bridges and speedy transportation-roadways shortened the operation of the department to passenger transport only-in the backwaters and ferries. But in the world of speed and hurry the advantage of this pollution free, accident free and cheaper transport system beckons least preference.

Operational Statistics

Major areas of operation:-

Backwaters

(1) Vembanattu lake - 52 sq kms.
(2) Ashtamudy lake - 200 sq kms.
(3) Ernakulam - Vypeen ferry (Cochin port & Harbour)
(4) Muhamma - Kumarakom
(5) Vaikom - Thavanakkadavu
(6) Payyannur - Parassinikkadavu

Total distance operated .......79,00 km per day

No. of passengers carried....... 80,000 per day

No. of operating centers ....... 14 stations

Ernakulam District .... Ernakulam Station Office
Alappuzha District ....Alappuzha, Nedumudy, Kavalam, Pulincunnu, Edathua, Muhamma and Panavally Stations
Kottayam District .... Kottayam, Changanachery and Vaikom stations
Kollam District .... Kollam Station
Kannur District ....Payyannur and Parassinikkadavu stations

No. of Passenger boats....... 81

Longest route operated....... 60.km

Capacity of boats....... 50 passenger to 150 passengers (wooden boats) Boats are constructed in the traditional way with well seasoned teak wood.

Speed of boat.......10 to 15 km per hour

Size of boats Length.......20 mtr to 35 mtrs Width - 3 to 4.5 meters Depth - 2 mtrs Weight - 5 to 15 tonns

No. of crew for a boat .......5 persons at a time

Mission and Vision   of the department

The state Water Transport Department was formed in !968 with the objective of rendering water transport facility to the people residing in the isolated islands and in the waterlogged areas of the Districts of Alappuzha,Kottayam,kollam & Ernakulam and also for transporting cargo through waterways. The Directorate is at Alappuzha.At the out set Roads and bridges   were few   and therefore water transport was the sole means of traffic available to these people.Now Roads and bridges have come into existence in many of these waterlogged areas,and passengers have the alternative to reach their destinations through road.In spite of all these developments of the Vehicles transport,the water transport facility extended by this department still maintains its significance.Water transport is safe,economical & pollution free,compared to any other mode of transport.

The mission of water transport department as aforesaid is rendering of maxium water transport facility to the passengers in the waterlogged areas of all the districts in the state of kerala.The vision of the department is to decongest the Road Transport by introducing large scale cargo movements through the waterways of the state interconnecting several districts.

Now the operational areas are the waterlogged places in the districts of Alappuzha,Kottayam,Ernakulam,Kollam,Kasargode & Kannur.The activity now in these areas is passenger boat service only.