Suvendu Adhikari flags off Kuthighat ferry service

Kolkata: State Transport minister Suvendu Adhikari flagged off the ferry service at Kuthighat that is scheduled to commence from Monday.

"Two-hundred seater double engine vessels will connect Kuthighat, Bagbazar ghat and Farlie Place ghat. At present, four such vessels will run and one will be kept as reserve. Soon, the number of vessels will be increased to 10," said Suvendu.

While the ferry services from Kuthighat will be available from 8 am to 8 pm, the entry gate of the ghat will be closed 10 minutes prior to commencement of bore tide, a natural phenomenon that occurs in narrow channels when the leading edge of an incoming tide clashes with the flow of an outgoing tide and causes a wave.

During adverse weather condition, the ferries should be stopped without any delay and under no circumstances it will be restarted without the permission of the authority.

No vessel will be allowed to operate without proper Life Saving Appliances (LSA), Fire Fighting Appliances (FFA) and Light Sound and Signal Appliances (LSSA).

"The ferry services will benefit the people of Baranagar, Cossipore and North Kolkata after plying of buses and heavy vehicles were restricted on Talla Bridge since September 25," said Suvendu after flagging off the vessels.

West Bengal Transport Corporation managing director Narayan Swaroop Nigam, Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy, State Planning and Statistics minister Tapas

Roy and Baranagar Municipality Chairperson Aparna

Moulik were present on the occasion.