Commercial and tourist traffic may return to the Buckingham canal on 45-km stretch from Thiruvanmiyur to Kalpakkam

Believe it or not, boating may return to Buckingham canal. However, it’s not the portion near Chennai Central but a 45-km stretch from Thiruvanmiyur to Kalpakkam, where the canal looks like its original self, which might see traffic and activity returning.

The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) has been given a go-ahead by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) to carry out an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Management Plan (EMP) report along the South Buckingham Canal.

The plan is to make this stretch of the canal suitable for navigation of cargo vessels of maximum 300 tonnes and movement of tourist and passenger vessels of reasonable size as well as construction of three terminals for loading and unloading of cargo.

According to the plan, the canal needs dredging and banks have to be formed with excavated soil. It also requires dredging of sea mouths in Muttukadu and Kalpakkam and subsequent maintenance.

Terminals have to be constructed at suitable locations for cargo and passenger operation with necessary facilities including weigh bridges, truck parking and electrical sub-stations.

While granting permission for preparation of EIA/EMP reports, the MoEF has sought the map of the proposed locations of the terminals as they may fall within Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and therefore, require clearance.

The MoEF has sought the feasibility report for the project to know the availability of pathway between Thiruvanmiyur to Kaplakkam in view of the existing bridges, road crossings and obstructions.

Officials say it would require dismantling and removal of the bridge at Kelambakkam that has less navigational clearance. A new bridge has to be constructed with the required clearance.

If the IWAI, a unit of the Union Shipping Ministry, can pull it off, Chennai will have another transport route running parallel and in between the East Coast Road and Old Mahabalipuram Road.