Carved through the laterite cliffs of Varkala in the late 19th century, the Varkala Tunnel stands as one of Kerala’s most remarkable inland waterway achievements. Built as part of the Travancore State Canal, it once enabled boats to travel seamlessly between Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, supporting trade, mobility, and livelihoods at a time when waterways were the backbone of transport.
Over the decades, changing transport patterns led to the tunnel falling silent. What was once a vibrant navigation corridor slowly slipped into disuse.
That silence is about to be broken.
Reviving a Forgotten Passage
The reopening of the Varkala Tunnel is the result of sustained efforts to restore Kerala’s inland waterway heritage and reimagine it for contemporary use. Rather than treating the tunnel as a static monument, the revival envisions it as a living waterway, combining heritage conservation with tourism and sustainable transport.
The tunnel is set to reopen this month, with the inauguration planned by Sri. Pinarayi Vijayan, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Kerala, marking a significant milestone in the state’s water transport journey.
An Electric Boat, Purpose-Built for the Tunnel
What makes the Varkala Tunnel reopening truly unique is the experience being created for visitors. At the heart of this experience is a custom-built electric boat developed by Navalt for CIAL Infra, designed specifically for operations inside the Varkala Tunnel. As the boat moves through the tunnel, passengers will witness a light-and-sound show, with visual projections and audio narrations bringing alive the tunnel’s history, geology, and cultural context.
The journey through the tunnel becomes more than a passage—it becomes a story told on water.
Being fully electric, the boat offers silent, zero-emission navigation, making it ideal for enclosed heritage structures. Free from noise and exhaust fumes, it preserves the ambience of the tunnel while enhancing passenger comfort. The vessel is also integrated with the light-and-sound system required to project visuals along the tunnel walls, ensuring a seamless and immersive experience.
In a powerful convergence of past and future, a historic waterway built for boats over a century ago is being reactivated by a modern electric vessel.
On its way
As we write this, the boat is packed and ready, beginning its journey by road to Varkala. In a few days, it will reach the historic tunnel that once shaped Kerala’s water transport—and soon, it will carry passengers through that very passage, silently and cleanly. It is a quiet but powerful moment: a modern electric boat traversing the distance to bring a historic waterway back to life.
Specifications
Hull Type:
L x B x D x T
Passenger
Motors:
Class:
Battery configuration:
2 × 20 kWh propulsion (DNV Certified MANTA LFP Battery)
1 × 30 kWh auxiliary (DNV Certified MANTA LFP Battery)
Fully electric, zero-emission operation
Sandith Thandasherry 