Kolkata Port will have new tourist attraction

The state owned Kolkata port will soon have a tourist attraction, an Eighty year old British vintage vessel fully refurbished by the Port by next month the Port Chairman Vinit Kumar said.

Kolkata Port is planning to inaugurate the refurbished vessel, the first of its kind in the Indian subcontinent beginning of next month. The Port went for a long term lease of the vessel which was at that point of time in a dilapidated condition and did not have its own propulsion

As per the lease condition, the vessel 'P S Bhopal' will remain in the river moored adjacent to the shore or jetty and will be self propelled with its own power.

The craft will have an exhibition space, restaurant, small assembly.

Refurbishment of the vessel is almost complete and few trials in the river have taken place to ensure its safety of operation with passengers on board.

Nearly Eighty year old Steamer built in UK's Dumbarton Shipyard, named 'P S Bhopal' of length of about 63m and breadth of 9.2m was being used as a training vessel by  Kolkata Port Trust. With the completion of the lease agreement with the Training Institute in the year 2019, Kolkata Port wanted to refurbish this vessel which has a heritage value and open it to Public. Long term lease was selected through open tendering with the condition that the vessel will remain a property of the Port throughout the lease period.

Though the Paddle is not operational now, the basic structure of the vessel has not been altered and new main engines with propulsion has been installed so that the vessel can move in the river with passengers on board so as to bring the real feel of the vessel when built in 1944.