Kolkata, Oct. 26 -- Preparations for Gangasagar Mela 2027 have begun, with the West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation (WBSTC) floating tenders for ferry infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of steel pontoons, jetty repairs, temporary illuminated channel markers and the deployment of vessel crews to facilitate the movement of pilgrims.
The proposed works cover key ferry points connecting the mainland to Sagar Island, including Lot No. 8, Kachuberia, Namkhana, Benuban and Chemaguri.
Among the major projects, WBSTC has estimated Rs 65.87 lakh for installing five steel pontoons at Kachuberia to support gangways connecting semi-permanent jetties. Four steel pontoons will be installed at Lot No. 8 at an estimated cost of Rs 55.11 lakh.
The corporation has also invited tenders for supplying and installing five flat-deck steel pontoons at Namkhana (two), Benuban (one) and Chemaguri (two). Two additional pontoons will be installed alongside existing permanent jetty pontoons at Namkhana and Benuban, with footbridges connecting the jetties.
The work is estimated to cost Rs 57.76 lakh and is intended to facilitate the movement of pilgrims between jetties and vessels.
Another tender, estimated at Rs 33.92 lakh, covers the supply of mooring chains and anchors on a hire basis for nine semi-permanent jetties at Lot No. 8 and Kachuberia.
To facilitate navigation during the annual pilgrimage, WBSTC has proposed installing temporary illuminated channel markers along the stretches between Lot No. 8 and Kachuberia, and Namkhana and Chemaguri. The work is estimated to cost Rs 47.53 lakh.
The corporation has also floated a tender for deploying 50 vessel crew members for one month, or as required, to operate passenger and vehicle ferry services in Sagar. The crew will operate steel vessels with capacities ranging from 100 to 400 passengers, as well as roll-on/roll-off (Ro-Ro) vessels and loaded carriage transport (LCT) vessels used for transporting vehicles across waterways. The proposed deployment comprises 30 laskars and five personnel each in the categories of sareng, driver, sukhani and greaser.
Repairs to Kachuberia jetty have also been proposed at an estimated cost of Rs 15.36 lakh.
The proposed works are aimed at strengthening ferry infrastructure ahead of the annual pilgrimage, when lakhs of pilgrims travel to Sagar Island by water.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.