West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee formally inaugurated this year’s Ganga Sagar Mela on Thursday at Kolkata’s Outram Ghat, alongside monks from the Ramkrishna Vivekananda Mission, by paying floral tribute to Swami Vivekananda.
The chief minister also inaugurated a permanent transit camp at the ghat where thousands of pilgrims come ahead of their pilgrimage to Ganga Sagar. Additionally, she flagged off several services, including a modern electric vessel and 50 fire engines.
CM Banerjee, once again, demanded that the Ganga Sagar Mela be given the national status similar to the Kumbha Mela. The same was echoed by Ganga Sagar organising committee as well. The chief minister further raised the issue of the Centre not contributing to the organisation of Ganga Sagar Mela.
“The central government allocates thousands of crores of rupees to Kumbha Mela, and the fair is accessible by rail and air. However, transportation here relies entirely on waterways, with people depending solely on water for travel,” she said, adding that a four-lane bridge would be constructed by the state government.
