Kolkata’s Seven Heritage Ghats Set for Revival

Kolkata has a long tradition of history and culture surrounding the Hooghly River. The ghats on the banks of the river are not only the place of rituals, ceremonies, religious activities or social work of the city, but they also reflect the character of Kolkata. However, due to years of neglect and erosion, many ghats are now in a dilapidated state. This time, that picture is going to change.

A project has been undertaken to restore and beautify seven ghats on the banks of the river in a joint initiative of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Kolkata Police and some private organizations.

The ghats that have been selected for reconstruction in this traditional initiative are – Mayar Ghat, Surinam Ghat, Nimtala Bisarjan Ghat, Chotelal Ki Ghat, Dai Ghat, Kumartuli Ghat, Champatala Ghat.

The riverside stretch between Kumartuli and Champatla Ghats has also been given a makeover with attractive walkways and beautification.

In a meeting on Saturday, senior port officials, Kolkata Police Commissioner Manoj Verma, representatives of KMC and corporate executives met to discuss the plan to rebuild it.

A port official said “Our aim is to rebuild these ghats in a way that the heritage remains intact, while adding modern facilities to make them more aesthetic and accessible.”

Port Chairperson Rathendra Raman said” The ghats are deeply connected to Kolkata’s heritage and the daily lives of people. So this initiative is not just an architectural renovation, but an attempt to preserve the city’s heritage.

Which companies were allocated to develop the ghats ?

This project will be mainly funded from the CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) budgets of various corporate entities. Each ghat will be developed by a different company—

1. Adani Ports & SEZ Limited – the section between Kumartuli and Champatla ghat.
2. Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited – Mayar ghat and Surinam ghat.
3. PS Group – Nimtala Bisarjan ghat.
4. IHCL Group (Taj Hotels) – Chotelal ki ghat.
5. TNS Logi Park Private Limited – Daigha.

All the companies have already signed MoUs with the port authorities. The projects are currently at the design stage.

What are the present conditions of the ghats ?

• Today, many of these ghats are in a dilapidated condition. The situations are as follows
• The stairs are broken and unusable.
• Inadequate or dilapidated lighting.
• Lack of toilets and changing facilities.
• No drinking water facilities.
• Decoration and colorful elements have faded.
• Even river erosion has created large gaps in many ghats, which pose a risk of serious accidents for users. Therefore, this renovation has become the need of the hour.

What will be the major changes take place ?

Special emphasis will be given to safety and user comfort during the renovation.

• A beautiful walkway will be built between Kumartuli and Champatla ghats
• The ghats will be renovated with color , drinking water facilities.
• Toilets for male and females will be arranged.
• More corporate bodies will be encouraged to adopt other ghats in the future.
• Adequate lights and safety will be main priorities.
• New chairs will be installed in the ghats for enjoying riverside view sitting on the chairs.

Currently, according to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, there are 29 officially recognized ghats in the city. In addition, there are countless small ghats, which are used by locals but are not on the official list.

A port official said optimistically “If this project is successful, many more corporations will come forward. This will give a new look to not only the riverbank but also the entire city.”

Numerous social and cultural activities, starting from Durga Puja, Kali Puja, Chhath Puja, are held around the ghats of the Hooghly River. These traditional ghats of Kolkata are not just a staircase on the river bank, but are part of the soul of the city. This grand initiative is coming forward to revive that soul in a new form.