Would you believe it if we told you that it is possible take a 90-minute ride on a river cruise
for as little as Rs39 Sounds unbelievable This will come into effect from October 1, 2020 in Kolkata.
The West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) will launch a river cruise over the Ganges to showcase the rich heritage of the city at a price of just Rs39 per head.
The cruise will pass along many historically important landmarks of the City of Joy such as Mayer Ghat in Bagbazar which was visited by Ma Sarada, Babughat where Durga idols are immersed, the towering Vidyasagar Setu and the burning ghat of Nimtala where several eminent personalities have been cremated such as Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose and Rabindranath Tagore. The magnificent Howrah Bridge, Eden Gardens and Howrah Station are the other iconic spots that will be visible on the tour.
The ride will start and end at the Millennium Park jetty. The objective behind the
initiative is to make river cruises affordable for everyone. Most previous river cruises along the Ganges were mostly operated by private companies and cost quite a bit of money.
The cruise will operate twice daily at 4pm and 6pm on weekdays, with two additional slots at
12pm and 2pm on weekends and holidays.
Keeping in mind the safety protocols due to the pandemic, a maximum of 150 people will be allowed in a single ride in order to maintain social distancing.
The ride will include a free tour guide to help visitors identify the important landmarks and
inform them about their historical background. Each guest can take home a complimentary navigation brochure as souvenirs. A cruise cafe will serve hot beverages and packed snacks at a cost. There will even be a selfie booth for the Insta-crazy generation. Tickets have to be booked at the WBTC offline ticket counter. They may offer special booking arrangements in the future for such tours.
