Patna: Tourists visiting Janardan Ghat in Digha are confronting a stark contrast between promises and reality. Around Rs 1.9 crore was reportedly spent by the Tourism Corporation to develop the ghat into a tourist destination, yet essential amenities such as parking, toilets, and restaurants remain non-operational.
Water sports and the MV Kautilya Vihar cruise continue to attract visitors, but the neglect of basic facilities is causing growing inconvenience. Efforts to restore tourist facilities at the ghat began in December last year, and the allocated funds have reportedly been exhausted. However, tourists continue to find the site lacking: the parking lot remains ungated and without a proper boundary wall, a fallen light pole adds to safety concerns, and the restaurant built three months ago is yet to open. Plans to establish a cafeteria, toilets, benches, solar lights, and platforms remain unfulfilled.
Women visitors, in particular, are facing difficulties. No changing rooms have been constructed, and a toilet that was completed three months ago remains closed. Despite the presence of separate facilities for men and women, lack of access forces many women to make repeated trips, further highlighting the ghat’s inadequate infrastructure.
Though the Tourism Corporation has named Janardan Ghat a “tourist ghat” and prepared a development plan, the promises appear to have been left unimplemented. Visitors from Patna and beyond continue to face inconvenience, calling into question the effectiveness of the investment and planning at the site.
