Patna, Nov 10 (IANS) Patna residents received a new transport facility ahead of the Chhath festival with the launch of a water metro service on the Ganga on Tuesday.
The service will operate between Digha Ghat and NIT Ghat, covering a distance of around 9.5 km.
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the service at Digha Ghat in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Health Minister Nishant Kumar.
The water metro will operate daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the fare fixed at Rs 50 per passenger.
The service will be managed by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation.
Modern air-conditioned metro boats, each with a capacity of around 100 passengers, will ferry commuters along the designated route.
The service is expected to provide an alternative to road transport, improve connectivity between different parts of Patna and promote tourism along the Ganga.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal had earlier announced the introduction of the water metro in Patna.
With its launch, Patna becomes the second city in the country, after Kochi in Kerala, to introduce such a service.
The state government is also exploring the possibility of developing passenger and tourism services on the Son, Gandak and Kosi rivers.
A task force comprising officials from the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the Inland Waterways Authority of India and the Bihar government will soon be constituted to examine the feasibility of operating such services on these rivers.
The vessels have been equipped with modern facilities and safety systems.
A specialised supercharger has been installed at Gandhi Ghat to recharge the boats’ batteries, with a full charge reportedly taking around 10 to 15 minutes.
For passenger safety, the boats have CCTV cameras and an automatic location system, which will be monitored remotely.
Three to four rescue boats will also be deployed along the route to respond to emergencies.
The launch is expected to add a new dimension to urban transport in Patna while opening up further opportunities for tourism and passenger movement on the Ganga.
–IANS
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