Thu May 29 17:05:57 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) has begun construction of 13 hybrid ferries for the West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTIDCL). These ferries, intended to replace aging diesel vessels on the Hooghly river, will use a hybrid electric propulsion system combining batteries and diesel generators to reduce pollution. The vessels will be constructed with aluminium and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) and have a catamaran hull design. Six larger, air-conditioned double-deck ferries will carry 200 passengers, while seven smaller single-deck ferries will carry 100. The initiative is part of West Bengal’s green transport program.

**News Article:**

**Kolkata to Get Green River Transport Boost as Construction Begins on Hybrid Ferries**

**Kolkata, May 29, 2025** – Kolkata’s Hooghly River is set to become greener as Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE) inaugurated the construction of 13 hybrid ferries today. The new vessels, commissioned by the West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. (WBTIDCL), will replace older, polluting diesel ferries currently operating within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.

The keel-laying ceremony was attended by West Bengal Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty, who emphasized the initiative’s role in the state’s broader green transport efforts. The ferries will be equipped with a hybrid electric propulsion system, utilizing both batteries and diesel generators. GRSE states that this system will offer flexibility and reduce pollution, with the use of batteries minimizing harmful emissions.

The vessels will be constructed with lightweight, durable materials such as aluminium and fibre-reinforced polymer (FRP) and feature a catamaran hull design for enhanced stability and efficiency. Six of the ferries will be larger, double-deck vessels with air-conditioned main decks, capable of carrying 200 passengers. The remaining seven will be single-deck ferries with a capacity of 100 passengers.

“We are proud to spearhead the green initiatives of the Government of West Bengal,” said Cmde. P.R. Hari, IN (Retd.), Chairperson and Managing Director of GRSE. “I am confident that we shall design and deliver high-quality vessels to minimise the carbon emission in the maritime sector.”

The new ferries are expected to operate in all-weather conditions along the Hooghly River, part of the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly River System (National Waterway-1), from Triveni in the north to Diamond Harbour in the south. This initiative represents a significant step towards a cleaner and more sustainable transportation network for the region.

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