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Kollam Canal or Quilon Canal or Kollam Thodu is a 7.7 km long canal system passing through the city of
Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
,
India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
. It is a part of National Waterway-3 and 78 km long
Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
-
Trivandrum Thiruvananthapuram ( ), also known as Trivandrum, is the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. As of 2011, the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation had a population of 957,730 over an area of 214.86 sq. km, making it the largest and ...
(Kovalam) State waterway project.


History

The Kollam canal was built on 1880 and is a bustling part of 560 km long
Thiruvananthapuram–Shoranur canal The Thiruvananthapuram - Shoranur canal is a historic canal in India, from Trivandrum to Shoranur (Palakkad district). It was one of the most arterial transportation mode in erstwhile Travancore princely state. Most of the trade, commerce and ...
(TS Canal) waterway project, also used as a means for transport of both people and goods, as an avenue for leisure and the water even used for irrigation and drinking. Kollam Canal was an arterial inland waterway of old
Quilon Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometers (44 mi) nort ...
city. It was the major trade channel of
Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...
state that time. Giant cargo vessels ferrying different types of goods through this canal were a common view of
Quilon Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometers (44 mi) nort ...
city those days.
Chamakada Chamakada or Chamakkada is a trade hub of the city of Kollam, India, in the core Downtown Kollam area. The area has wholesale dealers and rice merchants. Chamakada is the second main commercial centre of Kollam city after Chinnakada. Chamakada: ...
section of the canal served as a harbour for unloading the goods brought by these vessels to
Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
. Processed cashew from various factories in the ''Cashew Capital'' along with other goods from the wholesale markets of old
Quilon Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometers (44 mi) nort ...
city for export was the major export material handled at
Chamakada Chamakada or Chamakkada is a trade hub of the city of Kollam, India, in the core Downtown Kollam area. The area has wholesale dealers and rice merchants. Chamakada is the second main commercial centre of Kollam city after Chinnakada. Chamakada: ...
that time.


Relevance and developments

Kollam Canal is a part of Kollam Canal development project. Authorities have already spent 13 crore on renovating and reviving Kollam Canal. There are several ferry stations and jetty along this 7.7 km stretch. The Kollam Canal development project is expected to meet the water transportation and irrigation needs of the people of Kollam Urban Agglomeration in future. The canal is connecting
Asramam Asramam or Ashramam is one of the prime locations in Kollam city of Kerala, India. It is one among the 55 wards of Kollam Municipal Corporation. Asramam is a notable place in the city because of the presence of Kollam Airport, old airport, public ...
, Cutchery,
Chamakada Chamakada or Chamakkada is a trade hub of the city of Kollam, India, in the core Downtown Kollam area. The area has wholesale dealers and rice merchants. Chamakada is the second main commercial centre of Kollam city after Chinnakada. Chamakada: ...
, Pallithottam, Kochupilamoodu, Mundakkal, Eravipuram, Mayyanad, Thanni & Paravur in
Kollam Metropolitan Area Kollam Metropolitan Area is the 4th largest Metropolis in Kerala and 14th largest List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India, urban agglomeration in South India. It is one of the List of Kerala cities by urban area growth, 10 fastest gr ...
. Along with Kollam Canal,
National Waterway 3 The West Coast Canal or National Waterway No 3 is a long inland navigational route located in Kerala, India, which runs from Kollam to Kottapuram. It was declared a National Waterway in 1993. In addition to the main stretch, Champakara and Ud ...
and
Inland Waterways Authority of India Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority in charge of the waterways in India. It was constituted under IWAI Act-1985 by the Parliament of India.http://iwai.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=882 See section 3 of the act Its he ...
are also serving
Kollam Metropolitan Area Kollam Metropolitan Area is the 4th largest Metropolis in Kerala and 14th largest List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India, urban agglomeration in South India. It is one of the List of Kerala cities by urban area growth, 10 fastest gr ...
. The transportation system through Kollam Canal is intended for providing facilities for passenger and cargo transportation at cheaper rates. The waterway has tremendous tourism potential too. It connects
Ashtamudi Lake Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal, ml: "അഷ്ടമുടിക്കായൽ" ''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body. ...
with
Varkala Varkala is a major coastal municipality and a northern suburb of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the Indian state of Kerala. In legends and myths related to Kerala, texts like the Keralolpathi, Kerala Mahatmyam describe the Varkala reg ...
,
Kovalam Kovalam is a beach and seaside resort in the city of Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, India. Kovalam is located southeast of the city center. The beaches around Kovalam are popular vacation destinations for both domestic and international travelle ...
, Kadinamkulam through
Paravur kayal Paravur Kayal is a lake in Paravur, Kollam, Paravur, Kollam district, Kerala, India. Although it is small, with an area of only 6.62 km², it is the end point of the Ithikkara River and part of the system of lakes and canals that make up t ...
and TS Canal. A full-fledged intra-city water transportation system, as like the one existing in the city of
Venice Venice ( ; ; , formerly ) is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto Regions of Italy, region. It is built on a group of 118 islands that are separated by expanses of open water and by canals; portions of the city are li ...
can be implemented in
Kollam Metropolitan Area Kollam Metropolitan Area is the 4th largest Metropolis in Kerala and 14th largest List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India, urban agglomeration in South India. It is one of the List of Kerala cities by urban area growth, 10 fastest gr ...
. The canal is suitable for launching Water Metro in
Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
. It is also a crucial link to connect
Kollam Port Kollam Port or Port of Quilon is one of the oldest ports (established in AD 825) situated away from Downtown Kollam (formerly Quilon) It is the third largest port in Kerala by volume of cargo handled and facilities and one of the four Kerala po ...
with the
Inland Waterways Authority of India Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) is the statutory authority in charge of the waterways in India. It was constituted under IWAI Act-1985 by the Parliament of India.http://iwai.nic.in/showfile.php?lid=882 See section 3 of the act Its he ...
's Kollam Inland Terminal.


Controversies

The development activities of Kollam Thodu is happening in a very slow pace. There are allegations about sand mining happening instead of channel development and misappropriation of development funds. The canal is used as dumping ground in various parts by shops and establishments in the area. A bridge which was under construction over Kollam Canal near
Chamakada Chamakada or Chamakkada is a trade hub of the city of Kollam, India, in the core Downtown Kollam area. The area has wholesale dealers and rice merchants. Chamakada is the second main commercial centre of Kollam city after Chinnakada. Chamakada: ...
called Kallupalam collapsed while construction injuring a worker.


See also

*
Kollam Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the List of cities and towns in Kerala, fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake ...
*
Buckingham Canal The Buckingham Canal is a -long fresh water navigation canal, that parallels the Coromandel Coast of South India from Kakinada of Andhra Pradesh to Parangipettai near Chidambaram of Tamil Nadu. The canal connects most of the natural backw ...
*
Kollam KSWTD Ferry Terminal Kollam KSWTD Boat Jetty or Kollam KSWTD Ferry Station is an transport hub in the city of Kollam in Kerala, India, one of 14 ferry stations owned by the Kerala State Water Transport Department. Importance Kollam is one of the few cities in Kera ...
*
Ashtamudi Lake Ashtamudi Lake (''Ashtamudi Kayal, ml: "അഷ്ടമുടിക്കായൽ" ''), in the Kollam District of the Indian state of Kerala is a unique wetland ecosystem and a large palm-shaped (also described as octopus-shaped) water body. ...
* Paravur Lake


References

{{Kollam , state=expanded * * * * History of Kollam Water transport in Kollam