Barge service to Kottayam from March 8

It will help reduce carbon footprint and cost for the first and last mile connectivity

A container barge conducting a trial run on the Kochi-Kottayam waterway recently.

A regular container barge service between the Cochin port and Kottayam port via National Waterways 3 and National Waterways 9 will begin on March 8.

An official release issued by the Cochin Port Trust here on Tuesday said that A.V. Ramana, chairman in-charge, Cochin Port Trust, held a meeting with representatives of the Customs Department, Kottayam port, IGTPL, Shipping Lines, and custom brokers here on Tuesday to finalise the arrangements for a regular container barge service.

Sagarmala programme

The barge service will help reduce the carbon footprint and cost for the first and last mile connectivity, thereby fulfilling the objective of the ‘Sagarmala’ programme of the Union Ministry of Shipping, it said.