Patna gets water metro service

Patna residents can now cruise along the Ganga as north India’s arguably the first ‘Water Metro’ service began operations on Tuesday, November12.2026. CM Samrat Choudhary flagged off the state-of-the-art catamaran vessel at a ceremony held at Digha Ghat in the state capital. Ghe 50-seater vessel is equipped with a hybrid engine and primarily operates on electric power to minimise air, water, and noise pollution. The catamaran is also equipped with modern facilities, including air-conditioning, public announcement systems, toilets, and wheelchair accessibility. With this launch, Patna has become the second city in India, after Kochi in Kerala, to operate a dedicated water metro system. The service, managed and operated by the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation
(BSTDC), connects Digha Ghat to Gandhi Ghat, near NIT Patna, along a scenic 10-km stretch of the river. On its inaugural run on Tuesday, the catamaran vessel (Water Metro) departed from Digha Ghat and reached Gandhi Ghat. The catamaran vessel is fully air-conditioned and uses eco-friendly, electric-powered technology designed to minimise carbon emissions and noise pollution on the river."The catamaran vessel is equipped with a hybrid engine. To charge its battery, arrangements have been made for fast chargers and shore chargers at Digha Ghat and Gandhi Ghat,” the CMO said.“In the future, its operation will be extended up to Kangan Ghat,” a communique issued by the chief minister’s office (CMO) said. With the extension, the Water Metro will cover a 16-km stretch of the river between Digha Ghat and Kangan Ghat.