The developing of Sholinganallur and Kalpakkam canal work is being undertaken now. This cargo shipping channel was launched on Friday.Cargo terminals will be built at Sholinganallur, Muttukadu and Mamallapuram along the 2m deep and 32m wide channel. Damaged navigational locks at Muttukadu and other areas will be replaced and the dilapidated bridge at Kelambakkam rebuilt.
Vessels weighing up to 300 tonnes will traverse the stretch, transportingfoodgrain, fertilisers and building material. It will also be fit for movement of tourist vessels from Chennai to Mamallapuram and later up to Puducherry.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India has prepared a detailed report and tenders will be floated next week for the 123.4 crore project that is scheduled to be completed in 30 months. According to IWAI chairman Amitabh Verma, the demand to extend the network to Thiruvanmiyur upstream is being considered. The authority awaits a coastal regulation zone clearance from the Tamil Nadu government.
The new project is part of the National Waterway project-4, to link canals for a distance of 1,078km from Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh to Puducherry via Tamil Nadu. Once the network is completed, a number of ports like Kakinda, Krishnapatnam, Nizampatnam, Ennore and Chennai ports, and upcoming ports like Dugarajapatnam, can be linked for smooth transport of cargo.
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