Army Official Raises Concern Over Ganga ‘Aarti’ over the Hooghly

The ghat is located in an area that falls under the custodianship of the defence ministry. The officer requested that civic officials consider the necessity of the construction at the Baje Kadamtala Ghat and also discussed issues such as reducing traffic congestion, ensuring unobstructed access to the ghat, and constructing toilets nearby. On weekends, the ghat attracts around 2,000 visitors, and there are discussions about imposing an upper limit on the number of people who can be allowed entry. During the meeting, KMC officials also mentioned that the army officer expressed concern about a small enclosure built by the KMC for a deity, stating that allowing new constructions along the riverbank would result in the entire bank being dotted with structures. The KMC received permission from the Army to hold the aarti on the riverbank, but no permission was given for the construction of the enclosure. The meeting also addressed the need to declutter the bus terminus outside the ghat, which is frequently occupied by inter-state buses and goods vehicles. Civic officials have suggested implementing a manual rail gate to regulate the crowd better, as visitors often have to cross Circular Railway tracks to reach the ghat.