Mamata launches India's first electric vessel at Babughat; addresses Gangasagar pilgrims

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee inaugurated India’s first electric vessel at Outram Ghat (Babughat) in Kolkata while officially opening the Gangasagar Mela. The event also paid homage to Swami Vivekananda as part of its celebrations.

Reflecting on the importance of the Gangasagar pilgrimage, Mamata Banerjee emphasized its cultural and spiritual significance, comparing it to the Kumbh Mela. She highlighted that last year, over 1 crore people visited Gangasagar, and despite the Centre allocating substantial funds to the Kumbh Mela, Gangasagar has largely been developed through state resources.

“When our government came, there was nothing in Gangasagar. Even a pilgrimage tax was collected. Now, the state government bears all the expenses, and we have built three helipads for convenience,” Banerjee stated.

The Chief Minister announced that 12 state ministers will be on duty at the Mela to oversee operations, while the newly introduced “Sagar Bandhu” initiative will provide multilingual assistance to visitors. She also urged transport authorities to implement a batch transit system to ensure smooth movement of pilgrims, noting that traveling to Gangasagar is more challenging than reaching the Kumbh Mela.

Banerjee reiterated her decade-long demand to declare Gangasagar Mela a national fair, asserting that it deserves equal recognition. “Gangasagar fair is no less than Kumbh. All pilgrims should visit Gangasagar at least once,” she said.

This year, a grand Ganga Aarti is scheduled on January 11, 12, and 13, ahead of the holy bath. The Chief Minister also appealed to pilgrims to avoid lighting bonfires or causing any fire hazards during the event. “To those visiting from other states for the holy bath, you are our guests, and we welcome you warmly,” Banerjee concluded.