Fort Kochi-Vypeen undersea tunnel is a National asset

Why in the News?

The Kerala government’s ambitious project of constructing a coastal highway from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargode is underway.

The proposed Highway:

1. It is a coastal highway running over a distance of about 623 km at a cost of ₹6,500 crore from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargode in Kerala.
2. It shall pass through 9 coastal districts of the state.
3. The highway on reaching Kochi shall pass through a deep shipping channel of Kochi Port which shall connect Fort Kochi and the 27 km-long Vypeen island through an undersea tunnel.

The undersea tunnel- a national Asset:

1. The total length of the tunnel shall be about 2.6 km.
2. Dedicated corridors for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians for the smooth flow of traffic akin to modern tunnels can be planned.
3. The total costs may involve up to ₹1,500 crore and its life span has been estimated to be about 100 years or more.
4. The proposed tunnel that would start from Puthuvypeen and emerge at Fort Kochi beach will minimise land acquisition requirements.
5. It shall become the first tunnel under a deep shipping channel in India.
6. The undersea tunnel will pass through the territory of the Cochin Port Authority and becomes an integral part of the coastal highway network. Thus, it makes Central government to be the appropriate agency to meet the cost as the tunnel.
7. It shall also act as an important link for seamless transportation along the proposed coastal highway so as to
   1. Reduce the traffic congestion
   2. Provide an effective alternative to the national transportation network
   3. Help transport men and material across Kerala through the shortest route, thus saving time, energy, and fuel.
   4. serve as a hotspot for tourist attraction.
   5. Increase revenues of the government by way of toll charges immediately after commissioning., as users will have to pay enhanced toll charges for a faster, safer and well-organised transport system.
8. It also serves the purposes of:
   1.  Effective alternative mode of transportation in city limits.
   2.  Ensuring public safety and enhancement of the public transport system.
   3. Enhancement of quality of life in Kochi, given that Kochi is the fastest growing and the most progressive among the emerging urban conglomerations in India.