River cruise to begin in Kolkata from 1st October
It may seem incredible to hear the river cruise for just Rs 39, but the West Bengal Transport Corporation (WBTC) has decided to start the river cruise at the same price. This step of WBTC has been taken to give tourists a memorable experience of seeing the heritage of the city from the river Ganges.
WBTC managing director Rajanveer Singh Kapoor said on Sunday that this unique price has been fixed for a 90-minute cruise trip across the Ganges River. It will be exactly the same as a London River Cruise or Singapore Boat Ride or a cruise across the Mandovi River in Goa. Its goal is to attract tourists from all over the world.
Kapoor told that the cruise will begin on October 1. He said, ‘This is to make the Heritage River Cruise popular and affordable among all classes of people. During the cruise, tourists will visit the Mayer Ghat with Ganga Aarti after sunset.
He said that the cruise will provide a tour of many historical sites in the city located on the banks of the river. It includes places like Armenian Ghat, Nimtal Ghat, Chandpal Ghat, Eastern Railway Headquarters, Benoy Badal Dinesh Bagh etc. Along with visiting historical sites, tourists will also enjoy music during this time.
Kapoor said, ‘Tourists will get a tour guide for Rs 39 and will be given a navigation brochure, which they will be able to take with them. Apart from this, there will also be a cafe on the cruise, from where tourists will be able to buy tea-coffee or snacks. Along with this, there will also be a system of selfie booths, drinking water and washrooms.’
He said that in view of this troubled time of corona virus pandemic, all the standards of safety and sanitization will be followed during the journey. To follow the rule of social distancing, a maximum of 150 people will be able to ride the cruise at a time.
Kapoor said that Cruise will be operated by the Transport Corporation under the West Bengal government without any profit. The cruise will be operated from Millennium Park on weekdays at 4 pm and 6 pm. It will operate on holiday days and on Saturdays and Sundays at two o’clock, four o’clock and six o’clock.
