Renovated Chilakoor Tunnel to give a fillip to water-based tourism
Trivandrum / February 21, 2026
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb. 21: The renovation of Chilakoor Tunnel in Varkala as part of the Akkulam-Chettuva Water Way is all set to impart a big thrust to water-based tourism in Kerala, besides marking the picturesque Chilakoor Beach as a riveting destination.
Chief Minister Shri Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the first phase of Akkulam-Chettuva Water Way at Chilakoor Beach Park in Varkala on February 26, besides launching a string of tourism initiatives at Chilakoor Beach.
The tunnel renovation work has been carried out by Kerala Waterways Infrastructure Limited (KWIL), a joint venture of the state government and the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL).
Chilakoor Tunnel is a 350-metre engineering marvel, designed to make possible the end-to-end inland navigation of the erstwhile princely state of Travancore. The canal has been restored to navigable condition as part of the state government’s Inland Waterways development project.
Coinciding with the inauguration of the renovated Chilakkoor Tunnel, CIAL will also launch an electric boat ride and a ‘Light and Sound Show’, highlighting the life and teachings of Sree Narayana Guru who pioneered the social reform movement of Kerala. The show will also spotlight Sree Narayana Guru’s close association with Varkala, the heritage of the area and the cultural legacy of Kerala.
The light-and-sound show, equipped with mapping technology on the tunnel’s surface, has been designed and executed at a cost of Rs 4.5 crore, is the first fully-digitised tourism-oriented spectacle in the state.
Noting that the tunnel was a vital link in south Kerala’s inland navigation for passenger and freight movement in the past, Shri S Suhas, IAS, Director, KWIL, said the tunnel has now re-emerged as a landmark heritage destination. Considering its logistical and historical significance, the tunnel surface has not been disturbed by any embedded fixtures, Shri Suhas said.
“Visitors can experience the immersive show while ridingalong the tunnel in a specially designed 20-seater electric boat, made by Kochi-based startup NavAlt Green Mobility. The boat is equipped with four high-intensity imported laser projectors, advanced onboard sound systems, and battery power, ensuring a synchronized and eco-friendly visual spectacle,” he added.
A boat jetty and a beach park are also setting up as part of the tourism initiatives of the area.
The 280-km Akkulam-Chettuva Water Way, passing through the entire coastal stretch of Kerala, is a major component of the state government’s flagship West Coast Canal Renovation project, which is set to accelerate Kerala’s sustainable and inclusive development by opening up immense opportunities in multiple sectors including logistics and tourism.
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