PATNA, March 9 -- Construction has begun for the first charging station for Patna's upcoming Water Metro at Gandhi Ghat, giving fresh momentum to a much-awaited project that could soon let people cross parts of the city by hybrid powered boats on the Ganga. Officials from the Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) say that once the Gandhi Ghat facility is ready, the spot will allow the electric-hybrid vessels to top up their batteries while in service. Plans call for similar charging points to follow at Kangan Ghat and Digha Ghat in the near future. The first stretch of the Patna water metro is slated to cover about 10.5 kilometres, starting from Kangan Ghat and passing through Gayghat, Gandhi Ghat, Digha Ghat, Farakka Mahto Ghat, Nariyal Ghat, Panapur, Konhra Ghat, Kali Ghat at Sonpur and ending at Chechhar Ghat. In this initial phase, the main boarding points will be at Gandhi Ghat and Gayghat. Officials said that the idea is to develop the network further - possibly adding service to Hajipur and Sonpur and eventually running up to four separate routes with around 10 terminals in total. That would link Patna more closely with surrounding areas in Vaishali and Saran districts, while also making better use of National Waterway-1 on the Ganga. The main boat lined up for the job is called MV Gomdhar Kunwar. Built with help from Cochin Shipyard engineers, it cost more than Rs.12 crore. The entire water metro scheme carries a price tag of roughly Rs.908 crore and is being handled jointly by the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) and the Bihar government. Both ferries planned for the route are designed to run in electric or hybrid mode, with backup generators on board. They come fitted with air-conditioned cabins, wide glass windows for good views of the river, CCTV for safety, automatic location tracking and hull shapes meant to cut down on waves - even when moving faster - so smaller traditional boats nearby aren't bothered. In case of any trouble, three or four rescue boats will be kept ready. The focus throughout has been on making the ride comfortable, especially during hot months and on keeping things environment-friendly. Recent reports suggest the service might finally roll out sometime in early 2026, after earlier trial runs, technical checks, and the remaining setup work. With charging infrastructure now moving forward at key ghats, locals are hoping the Ganga will soon double as a practical daily commute option rather than just a place for religious rituals and sightseeing....