Remaining 8 ferry ghats to get AFCS, govt enlists firms
Times of India | 5 January 2024
Kolkata: The state government has enlisted three private firms—Smartpower Automation, Heritage Infrastructure, and AARPEE Overseas—to spearhead the implementation of the Automated Fare Collection System (AFCS) at ferry ghats across Kolkata and neighbouring areas.
Sources reveal that these companies have been tasked with expediting the upgradation work at eight ferry ghats within the next four months. The ongoing installation work encompasses key ghats such as Cossipore, Kutighat, Monirampore, Howrah, Konnagar, Chinsurah, Geonkhali and Noorpur. Funded by the World Bank, this project was initiated in November 2022.
The AFCS will be installed at a total of 40 ferry ghats across the state. 32 ghats have already undergone the transition to the new system.
“The AFCS project promises a 90% reduction in costs, offering waterway transportation at just Rs 1 per km as opposed to Rs 10 per km for road transport. This not only cuts expenses but also curbs pollution, traffic congestion, and carbon emissions,” said Rajiv K Poddar, director, Smartpower Automation.