**Summary:**
This document summarizes the response provided by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2283 on August 1, 2025, regarding the extension of National Waterway 3 (NW3).
The Government of Karnataka did not submit a proposal to the Union Government requesting in-principle sanction for a North-South Inland Waterway with National Waterway standards. However, the Government of Kerala requested the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways to declare the Kovalam to Kollam and Kozhikode to Bekal stretches of the West Coast Canal as National Waterway Class I to Class III, based on available standards.
The Government of India has already extended NW3 from Kottapuram to Kozhikode in Kerala under the National Waterways Act, 2016. This extension covers a feasible stretch from Kozhikode in the north to Kollam in the south. The remaining stretches from Bekal to Kozhikode in the north and Kollam to Kovalam in the south were not considered for declaration as National Waterway. This decision was based on findings from studies conducted by the National Transportation Planning and Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways: A ministry within the Government of India responsible for ports, shipping, and waterways.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India.
National Waterway 3: A national waterway in India. Referred to as NW3.
Adv K. Francis George: A member of parliament who raised a question about the extension of National Waterway 3.
Government of Karnataka: The state government of Karnataka, India.
Kollam: A city in Kerala, India and a part of the National Waterway 3.
Kozhikode: A city in Kerala, India and a part of the National Waterway 3.
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal: Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Government of Kerala: The state government of Kerala, India, which requested declaration of West Coast Canal stretches as National Waterway.
Kovalam: A town in Kerala, India; a proposed stretch of the West Coast Canal.
Bekal: A town in Kerala, India; a proposed stretch of the West Coast Canal.
West Coast Canal: A canal in Kerala, India, stretches of which were proposed to be declared as National Waterway.
National Waterways Act, 2016: An act by the Government of India
Kottapuram: A town in Kerala, India
National Transport Planning Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram: An organisation that completed studies relating to stretches of waterways. Located in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2283
ANSWERED ON 01.08.2025
EXTENSION OF NATIONAL WATERWAY-3
2283. ADV K. FRANCIS GEORGE:
Will the Minister of PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state:
प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन एवं जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ालय
(a) whether the Government of Karnataka had requested the Union Government
to grant-in-principle sanction for a single North-South Inland Waterway with National
Waterway Standards, if so, the details thereof; and
(b) whether the Union Government has taken any steps to grant sanction for the
additional stretches as extension to National waterway-3 (Kollam-Kozhikode) as
requested by the State Government of Karnataka, if so, the decision of the
Government thereon?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS
(SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)
(a) No such proposal has been received from the Government of Karnataka.
However, a proposal was received from the Government of Kerala requesting Ministry
of Ports, Shipping & Waterways for initiating steps to declare the Kovalam to Kollam
and Kozhikode to Bekal stretches of West Coast Canal as appropriate class (Class-I/
Class-III) of National Waterway according to the standards available.
(b) The Government of India has already extended National Waterway (NW)-3
from Kottapuram to Kozhikode in Kerala vide National Waterways Act, 2016. Thus,
NW-3 covers a total feasible stretch from Kozhikode in the north to Kollam in the south
out of entire waterway stretch from Bekal to Kovalam. The remaining stretch from
Bekal to Kozhikode in north and Kollam to Kovalam in south could not be considered
for declaration as National Waterway as per findings of the studies completed by
National Transport Planning & Research Centre, Thiruvananthapuram.
*****