Patna: The Patna Municipal Corporation has handed over the responsibility of operating and maintaining the Bans Ghat crematorium to Isha Outreach, a unit of the Isha Foundation founded by spiritual leader Sadhguru. The agreement was signed on Friday in the presence of Municipal Commissioner Yashpal Meena as part of the Bihar government’s effort to improve funeral services in the state capital and make them more organised, clean and environmentally friendly.
Officials said the partnership aims to provide better facilities for families visiting the crematorium during difficult moments. Under the agreement, Isha Outreach will manage all major facilities inside the Bans Ghat complex for the next five years. These include the electric crematorium, a chimney-based wood cremation system, open cremation areas, prayer halls, waiting rooms, staff quarters and other public amenities. The organisation will also be responsible for maintaining records, managing cleanliness and ensuring proper disposal of waste and sewage generated at the site.
The crematorium has recently undergone major redevelopment under the Patna Smart City Mission. The Bihar Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation constructed a new crematorium with modern facilities and also renovated the old structure already operating at Bans Ghat. After approval from the board of Patna Smart City Limited in April this year, the upgraded facility was officially transferred to the Patna Municipal Corporation for operation and maintenance.
Authorities said electric cremation systems would be encouraged to reduce pollution and improve environmental standards in the city. Families choosing wood-based cremation services will have to arrange and pay for the wood separately. The civic body has proposed service charges between Rs 3,500 and Rs 5,000 for funeral services, although the amount may be revised later through mutual agreement between both sides.
Officials of the municipal corporation said the new arrangement is expected to improve transparency, cleanliness and management at one of Patna’s most important cremation grounds. They also expressed hope that the Bans Ghat model could become an example for other cities in Bihar looking to modernise public funeral infrastructure while ensuring respectful services for grieving families.
