The West Bengal Government has officially announced that Kolkata will join the National Water Metro Programme, becoming the 18th city in India to receive this modern water-based public transport system.
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari made this major declaration on June 4, 2026, following a high-level meeting at Nabanna with Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Minister of State for Shipping Shantanu Thakur.
The announcement marks a significant milestone in the state’s maritime development strategy and represents a strategic partnership with the Central Government’s Sagarmala 2 initiative.
The official press conference revealed that West Bengal has committed to preparing project proposals worth Rs 22,700 crore over the next five years, focusing on strengthening port connectivity, expanding coastal shipping, improving fishing infrastructure, and promoting development of coastal communities.
This ambitious investment will transform the state’s maritime landscape with 44 new jetties planned across the region, with the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust already granting 41 necessary NOCs and three more pending approval.
The water metro system will operate along the Hooghly River, replacing the existing age-old ferry services that have operated between Kolkata and Howrah jetties for decades.
The modern water transit system will feature battery-powered boats with hybrid capabilities, allowing diesel generator operation during emergencies.
These vessels will be fully disability-friendly with interior design blending modern AC local train comfort with metro coach ergonomics. The project aims to provide fast, environmentally friendly, and modern public transport through waterways, functioning as an alternative mode parallel to road and metro rail networks.
The system is expected to significantly reduce urban congestion while providing commuters with a faster and more sustainable travel option with lower operating costs.
Several existing jetties including Baghbazar Ghat, Sovabazar Ghat, Babughat Ghat, Ahiritola Ghat, Mullick Ghat, Ramkrishna Ghat, and Bandha Ghat are currently undergoing renovation to support the new water metro system.
A detailed project report for the Kolkata Water Metro will be commissioned soon, with the project likely featuring in the second phase of rollout after Guwahati, Srinagar, Patna, Varanasi, Ayodhya, and Prayagraj receive the service in the first phase.
The funding structure is expected to involve shared investment between the Centre and the state, with possibilities for public-private partnership in developing terminals, pontoons, jetties, charging infrastructure, and passenger facilities.
Beyond the water metro, the state government announced significant changes to the deep-sea port project previously planned at Tajpur, which will now be developed at Dadanpatrighat located approximately 10 kilometres away due to insufficient land availability at the original site.
The new location offers around 1,700 acres of land suitable for deep-sea port development, with discussions ongoing with key industry stakeholders including Karan Adani. Additionally, West Bengal is considering establishing a separate shipping division to strengthen maritime infrastructure and inland water transport through structural reforms.
This initiative was previously covered in a video report about waterways development, where this exact announcement was discussed in detail. The video can be accessed through the description for those who want to revisit the earlier coverage.
भारत के Chief Economic Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran ने कहा है कि Inland Waterways हमारी supply chain को मजबूत बना सकती हैं।
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This earlier coverage highlighted how the water metro concept was being prepared for implementation across multiple Indian cities, with the Union Government launching the Draft National Water Metro Policy 2026 in May 2026 to cover 18 cities in the national network.
The Chief Minister described this initiative as the beginning of a new era in inland water transport in West Bengal, emphasizing that the project will be fast-tracked to make river-based transport more efficient and modern while easing pressure on the city’s road traffic.
The water metro system utilizes existing waterways with minimal civil infrastructure, making it significantly less capital-intensive than other transport modes while helping reduce urban congestion.
This development aligns with the broader national vision of strengthening water-based transport and represents a major stride in the state’s involvement with coastal development and enhanced port connectivity under the Central Government’s maritime initiatives.
