Besides Jalosathis, state to provide standardised, robust passenger boats

KOLKATA: Taking another step ahead in ensuring safety of people using inland waterways to reach their destinations, the state Transport department is going to introduce standardized, safe and robust passenger boats besides engaging 100 Jalosathis on Friday.

The well trained Jalosathis will carry out the most crucial task at the jetties to ensure safety and security of passengers.

It may be mentioned that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had directed the state Transport department to take necessary steps to ensure safety of passengers using water transport after the Telenipara incident in which some lives were claimed when a temporary jetty had collapsed.

The state government has introduced 'Jalodhara' scheme to replace the existing semi-mechansied boats with standardised, safe and robust passenger boats. A financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh is given to the beneficiaries under 'Jalodhara' scheme either to convert a semi-mechanised boat to a mechanised one or to buy a new standardised one.

At the same time, decision was taken to develop the infrastructure of a large number of jetties following a standard operating procedure (SOP). Each jetty has been developed at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

Now, 100 Jalosathis are going to join to ensure proper maintenance of the SOP on Friday. Suvendu Adhikari, the state Transport minister, will handover sanction letters to the beneficiaries of 'Jalodhara' scheme at a programme that will be held on Friday at Millennium Park. Six vessels will also be introduced at the same programme. The state Transport department is also going to introduce another 100 buses.

Adhikari will be flagging off the buses from Paribahan Bhavan II at Kasba. Moreover, 2,000 beneficiaries of 'Gatidhara' scheme are going to get sanctioned letters to get vehicles under the scheme.

The Transport minister will also handover motorbikes to senior police officers from Diamond Harbour.