‘Ro-ro’ vessels on Ganges soon

Kolkata: The state transport department has planned an environment-friendly project of developing the waterways and the river bank from Nandigram, Haldia in East Midnapore to Malda in North Bengal with financial assistance from the World Bank.

The jetties will be overhauled and state-of-the-art ro-ro (roll-on-roll off) vessels will grace the Ganges.

It is expected to boost tourism potential of the sector. The project cost has been estimated at Rs 500 crore.

“We have already sought approval from the state finance department and have submitted the proposal to the central government for its approval,” transport minister Suvendu Adhikari said at the event of flagging off five steel passenger vessels with capacities of 250 people each from the Millenium Park jetty on Monday.

The vessels will be plying from Dakshineshwar to Belur, from Cossipore to Howrah, Monirampur to Seoraphuli, Belur to Kuthighat (Baranagar) and from Konnagar  to Panihati.

“We will soon launch 14 wooden and 16 steel vessels,” Mr Adhikari said, adding that his department was striving to link the religious places in the state through the waterways.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, following two incidents of jetty collapse, one at Kalna last year and another at Telinipara, Hooghly that involved loss of lives, emphasised on river safety.