The West Bengal government has taken initiatives to dredge Muriganga River to facilitate round-the-clock ferry services to Gangasagar Mela, PTI India reports.
The work, once complete, will also reduce travel time between the ferry jetties and Sagar Island in South 24 Parganas.
Every year on Makar Sankranti (January 14), thousands of pilgrims gather at Sagar island to take a dip at the confluence of the Ganga and Bay of Bengal and offer prayers at the Kapil Muni Temple. Low tide in the Ganges delta often makes it difficult for the vessels to operate, leaving the pilgrims waiting at the ghats for long.
By December 31, majority of the work will be completed, and the rest of the dredging operations is set to be wrapped up by January 9, subsequently opening all jetties, PTI reports .
The state irrigation department has entered into an arrangement with the Central Dredging Corporation for the project.
Once the dredging work is complete, there will be 24-hour ferry services to the Sagar Island.