Inland Navigation in West Bengal

The importance of Inland Navigation in this part of the country can be better appreciated, if the position as existed in pre-partition Bengal is first described. Pre-partition Bengal was principally a riverine province where the greater part of transport was carried out on water. Apart from the popularity and advantageous position of navigation in the eastern districts, navigation formed an important means of transport on specific routes in the western part of the province. The Bhagirathi-Hooghly system formed the main carrier line in the latter area; launches and steamers used to ply along this river as also along the Rupnarain.