"The major landing stations require acquisition of private land. Bangladesh Inland Water Authority (BIWTA) have chosen the preferred spots and we have informed the land ministry. Now we are waiting for their decision," said a high official of BIWTA.

The first phase of the Tk 36 crore circular waterway project covers the Buriganga and Turag rivers comprising a 29.5-kilometre waterway from Sadarghat to Ashulia.

Four major landing stations are supposed to be built at Swarighat, Gabtoli, Aminbazar and Ashulia considering the current number of commuters and cargo and the future traffic flow in those areas. But so far, only one of those stations has been built at Swarighat. It has two pontoons, two steel gangways, one terminal building and a transit shed. A connecting road has been planned too.

The total project will be implemented with local funds and money will be spent mostly on dredging, construction of landing facilities like the terminal building, steel gangway, pontoon, RCC staircase and toll stations.

River dredging gets priority in the project as 60 per cent of the budget is allocated for it. 25 per cent of the fund is for land acquisition and 15 per cent of the money would be used for the construction of landing facilities from Swarighat to Ashulia.

Besides, four minor landing stations and two staircases have been planned by the BIWTA.

"Out of a probable 17 km dredging area, we have already completed dredging of 9 kilometres from Basila to Mirpur zoo but balance dredging has been halted as we need soil for construction of landing stations. Without getting the land first, we will not be in a position to complete the dredging," said the director of the project.

"We have the fund. As soon as we get permission from the land ministry we can go for acquiring with the help of the deputy commissioner's office," added the director.

Constructions of a pontoon, steel gangway and a passenger guestroom have been completed in minor landing stations at Kholamora and Basila. Two RCC staircases and toll stations have been built at Nawabganj and Rayerbazar for the benefit of the local boat-dominated river traffic.

The project director informed that construction work of minor landing stations at Shinnir Tek near Mirpur zoo and Biruliabazar opposite to Uttara under phase three of the project was in progress.

The Economic Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved Tk.36 crore for the first phase of the project on September 3, 2003 as it was deadlocked due to fund crisis.

Introduction of water bus and water taxi for the city's commuters on the Buriganga and Turag was set for June 2005 under the project. But the ECNEC brought forward the deadline to 2004 in a bid to quicken the pace of the work.

The second phase of the circular waterway project is scheduled to start from July 2004 which will touch the rivers Balu and Sitalakhya. But if the first phase is not completed in time, the fate of the second phase might become uncertain, fear BIWTA officials.

Currently more than 128 lakh commuters travel through the waterways of the city and thousands of tons of cargo, building materials and a significant number of livestock move through the rivers. The circular waterway would reduce the traffic congestion of the city as more commuters would be able to use the waterways.