Boat Operations Halted at Namo Ghat, Around 800 Families Face Livelihood Crisis

A major issue has surfaced at Namo Ghat in Varanasi, where the suspension of boat operations from Phase-1 and Phase-2 has created a livelihood crisis for nearly 800 families.

Local boatmen, who depend entirely on ferrying tourists and pilgrims along the Ganges River, say the sudden halt in operations has left them without any source of income. According to them, the decision was implemented without providing any proper alternative arrangement for those whose daily earnings depend on boat services at the ghat.

In protest against the shutdown, the affected families have staged a sit-in demonstration at the ghat, demanding immediate intervention from the authorities. The protesters say that unless boat operations are resumed soon, it will become extremely difficult for them to support their families.

The boatmen have appealed to the administration to restart boat services at the earliest so that they can resume their work and sustain their livelihoods. Authorities are yet to issue an official response regarding when operations might be restored.