In a city known for its timeless connection with the Hooghly River, a new chapter has unfolded on the water – and it’s all-electric. Meet Dheu, Bengal’s first zero-emission ferry and Kolkata’s latest weekend obsession. Launched about six months ago, this sleek green catamaran has quietly transitioned from a pilot project into a full-blown crowd-puller, redefining how the city experiences its historic riverfront.
Dheu – meaning wave in Bengali- is a stylish, eco-conscious alternative to traditional diesel ferries.
This is no ordinary ferry. Built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Dheu has a cutting-edge Catamaran Hull designed in collaboration with IIT Kharagpur using computational fluid dynamics (CFD).
“Team GRSE is proud to have designed and built the largest and fastest fully electric ferry of the country nation," said an official in a public briefing.
At INR 13.5 crore, it’s a major investment in green innovation. Dheu is GRSE’s first fully electric vessel and marks a significant shift in Bengal’s maritime landscape, replacing ageing and polluting diesel ferries that once dominated the Ganga and Bhagirathi rivers.
As Indian cities wrestle with air pollution and climate change, Dheu sets a benchmark in green transport. It’s a working model of what clean, beautiful, and inclusive public transport can look like. And perhaps just as importantly, it rekindles Kolkata’s age-old love affair with the Hooghly – in a forward-looking and future-ready form.
Dheu offers a two-hour sightseeing ride along some of Kolkata’s most iconic riverside landmarks.
For INR 300 (AC) or INR 200 (non-AC), you can cruise past the grandeur of Howrah Bridge, the elegant Bally Bridge, the spiritual hub of Dakshineswar, and the peaceful Belur Math.
(With inputs from multiple sources)