Ferry Disruption: Four days on, longer queues on the Padma
Ferry operations at Shimulia-Kathalbari route have remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day because of navigability crisis.
Over 400 vehicles, mostly trucks laden with goods, were stranded at both sides of the Padma as the authorities halted all ferry operations.
But authorities have kept three small ferries standby at the terminal for carrying emergency vehicles like ambulance.
Shimulia point is located in Munshiganj district and Kathalbari is in Madaripur district.
Contacted, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Secretary Kazi Wakil Nawaz said, “We have been compelled to stop ferry operation due to strong current and siltation. We hope to resume the operation tomorrow [today] through alternative channel.”
Abdul Alim, manager at Shimulia Ghat unit of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said, “At least seven-feet deep water is needed for operating ferries. But there are only five to six-feet deep water in the river channel. Navigability is continuously reducing here.
“We are continuously dredging but sufficient depth for ferry operations is not available yet.”
Normally 17 ferries ply in this route, which is considered as the gateway of 21 southern districts. But ferry operations have remained suspended since Sunday afternoon.
But operations of 87 passenger-carrying launches and over 300 speedboats were normal.
Meanwhile, Patuaria-Dauladia ferry route was facing excessive rush of vehicles as ferry operations at Shimulia-Kathalbari route remained suspended.
Paturia is located in Manikganj district and Dauladia is in Rajbari district.
The Daily Star found around two-kilometre long tailback of trucks at Paturia Ghat yesterday.
“I reached Patuaria ghat on Tuesday evening. But I could not board on ferry till Wednesday afternoon,” said truck driver Kamal Hossain.
According to the authorities, the trucks remained stranded as passenger-carrying buses and private cars were boarding ferries on priority basis.
Our Munshiganj and Manikganj correspondents contributed to this report
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