Hooghly’s heritage takes to water: Kolkata port plans floating cafés and museums

The Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK), is offering a new opportunity to hospitality brands, tourism operators, and innovators to revolutionise tourism along the Hooghly river.The port invites proposals to repurpose three historic pilot launches—P.L. Rupsa, P.L. Hooghly, and P.L. Gopal—into floating spaces for culture, leisure, and tourism.

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These vessels, once key to guiding ships on the Hooghly since the late 1990s, are ready for a second life as cafés, museums, and public attractions.“Inspired by the success of ventures like ‘Bengal Paddle’, SMP Kolkata envisions converting heritage vessels into floating cafés, museums, cruises, and event spaces. This initiative aims to preserve maritime history while enhancing community participation,” said Sanjay Mukherjee, S