GRSE begins construction of 13 hybrid ferries for Hooghly river service
The Hindu
GRSE inaugurates construction of 13 hybrid ferries for Kolkata, replacing diesel ferries with eco-friendly vessels along Hooghly river.
Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) on Thursday inaugurated the construction of 13 hybrid ferries intended to operate along the Hooghly river within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.
Keels were laid for all 13 ferries at a ceremony attended by West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty, Minister of State for Transport Dilip Mondal, Chairperson and Managing Director of GRSE Cmde. P.R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairperson of WBTIDCL Dr. Moinul Hassan, and other senior officials.
The vessels, being built for the West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTIDCL), are expected to replace ageing diesel ferries and support the State’s broader green transport initiative.
GRSE had signed a contract with the State Transport Department on November 19, 2024, for the design and construction of these ferries.
According to a statement issued by GRSE, the ferries are designed to operate in all-weather conditions across the Hooghly stretch, from Triveni in the north to Diamond Harbour in the south. The Hooghly forms part of National Waterway-1, also known as the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System.
The ferries will be equipped with hybrid electric propulsion systems, powered by both batteries and diesel generators. “The hybrid system will offer greater flexibility to the operator to switch from one mode to the other as per requirement, allowing for greater safety. The use of batteries will reduce pollution substantially,” the company said.
The vessels will be constructed using aluminium and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) and will feature a catamaran hull design for better stability and efficiency.
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