GRSE lays keel for 13 hybrid ferries, driving green maritime vision for West Bengal

New Delhi: In a significant stride toward sustainable inland water transport, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) Ltd laid the keels for 13 hybrid ferries being built for the Transport Department of the Government of West Bengal on Thursday. The event, held at the GRSE shipyard in Kolkata, marks a major milestone in the state's green transportation roadmap.

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The keel-laying ceremony was attended by senior government and GRSE officials, including the Minister-in-Charge, Transport Department, Government of West Bengal Snehasis Chakraborty; Minister-of-State for Transport Dilip Mondal; Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE Cmde PR Hari, IN (Retd); WBTIDCL Chairman Dr. Moinul Hassan and other dignitaries.

The 13 ferries are being constructed under a contract signed between GRSE and the Transport Department on November 19, 2024. Once commissioned, the ferries will be operated by the West Bengal Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (WBTIDCL) on the River Hooghly, covering routes from Triveni in the north to Diamond Harbour in the south within the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.

The vessels are designed with a catamaran hull and will be constructed using aluminium and Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP), offering both durability and reduced weight. Their hybrid propulsion systems—combining battery power with diesel generators—will provide flexibility, improved energy efficiency, and significantly reduced emissions. Operators can switch between modes as needed, ensuring optimal performance and enhanced safety.

The project includes two categories of ferries:

Six twin-deck vessels, each with a capacity of 200 passengers, air-conditioned main decks, and a crew requirement of five. These 30-metre-long vessels will have a top speed of 12 knots and are estimated to cost Rs 126 crore in total.

Seven single-deck vessels, each designed to carry 100 passengers, with similar crew provisions. These ferries will be approximately 25 metres long and reach speeds up to 9 knots, with an estimated cost of Rs 100 crore.

Speaking at the event, Transport Minister Snehasis Chakraborty attributed the initiative to the vision of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to promote sustainable and clean transport solutions. He lauded GRSE for delivering ‘Dheu’, India’s largest and fastest fully electric ferry, earlier this year, and expressed hope that Bengal’s green model for inland waterways would inspire similar efforts across other states.

GRSE CMD emphasized the shipyard’s commitment to supporting India’s green transition in maritime infrastructure. “We are proud to spearhead the green initiatives of the Government of West Bengal, and I am confident that we shall design and deliver high-quality vessels to minimize carbon emissions in the maritime sector,” he said.

The hybrid ferries are expected to modernize riverine transport in Kolkata, reduce dependence on fossil fuels, and serve as a benchmark for eco-friendly vessel design in India. GRSE’s initiative aligns with the larger national vision of decarbonizing transport and enhancing connectivity through sustainable water-based transport networks.

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