Mamata visits Kapil Muni Ashram and Sagar Island to see annual mela arrangements

Sagar Island (South 24 Parganas): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on her first visit to this small island to review the preparedness of the annual Gangasagar Melaon Wednesday unveiled three helipads, a bridge at Kakdwip and opened a one-story building near the Kapil Muni ashram for visiting pilgrims.

Usually, nearly half a million pilgrims from different parts of India visit every year to this island for a holy dip into the confluence

during January. The assembly becomes thick during the first two weeks of January and reaches the highest number between January 12 to 15. an official here said on Wednesday.
Banerjee on her first day also visited Kapil Muni ashram and Bharat Sevashram Sangha and offered prayers to the deities.
Earlier Banerjee, in a bid to ease connectivity in this farthest part of Bengal, virtually inaugurated the Kamarhat Setu of Kakdwip.
Among other developmental works for better connectivity, Hatania Doania bridge and Chemaguri bridge have already been initiated.
The chief minister, before her visit to Gangasagar island, had urged Eastern Railways to increase the frequency of trains to Namkhana during the visit of pilgrims. She also ordered around 2,250 government buses and 500 private buses will be in service for the pilgrims.
There will be four barges, 32 vessels and 100 launch services for transportation of the pilgrims to the meal venue.