Waterbus launched amid scepticism

Two water buses -- ML Turag and ML Buriganga -- plying Gabtali-Sadarghat route after they were pressed into service yesterday to lessen the pressure of traffic on city streets. The photo was taken at Basila. Photo: Anisur Rahman

The much-talked waterbus service was launched yesterday on the Gabtoli-Sadarghat route aiming to ease the city's nagging traffic situation.
However, environmentalists and experts fear that movement of waterbuses on the way would be hampered by bridge and small boats.
Poribesh Bachao Andolon Chairman Abu Naser Khan said that during the rainy season, waterbuses would find it difficult to pass under the Basila Bridge.
But Golam Mostafa Kamal, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) chairman, denied the claim.
Two waterbuses, Turag and Buriganga, will operate every day on the 16-kilometre long route via Kholamura and Swarighat from 7:00am to 6:00pm every one and a half hours.
Each waterbus with 35 seats cost Tk 55.75 lakh and will be using 28 litres of fuel to move at a maximum speed of 22.8 kilometres per hour, a statement from BIWTC said.
From Sadarghat to Gabtoli, the fare has been fixed at Tk 30 while from Sadarghat to Swarighat, Swarighat to Kholamura and Kholamura to Gabtoli Tk 10.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan yesterday inaugurated the service.
The minister as the chief guest said Bangladesh and India would work together to construct different types of inland vessels in order to develop the country's river transport system.
“Indian investors have shown interest to work with Bangladeshi ship building companies. If we work jointly, it will be easier to construct better quality vessels and provide better service to passengers,” he said.
He also said another 10 waterbuses would be introduced on this route within the next three months to make the project more effective and popular.
Bangladesh's Nitol-Niloy Group and Indian Merolyn Engineering Works Pvt Ltd will jointly construct the waterbuses, he mentioned.
Emphasising the importance of restoring navigability of inland waterways, the minister said the government will procure nine locally assembled dredgers by December.
He blamed the BNP-Jamaat government for crippling the country's river transport system saying, “They did not take any effective measures for river dredging or other developments. Rather they stopped the development works taken by the previous Awami League government in 1996-2000.”
State Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Jahangir Kabir Nanak; State Minister for Law Kamrul Islam; lawmakers Mostafa Jalal Mohiuddin and Aslamul Haque; Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader; BIWTA Chairman Abdul Malek Miah; BIWTC Chairman Golam Mostafa Kamal, Nitol-Niloy Group Chairman Abdul Matlub Ahmed and Chief Executive Officer of Indian Merolyn Engineering Works Pvt Ltd Kakoli Mitra were present at the inaugural ceremony.