A new hope for ferry passengers
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation started operation of a new ferry service on a pilot basis in Nairganj-Dhawapara route through the Padma from yesterday.
Up until now, Roads and Highways (RHD) was in-charge of the 14-km ferry route, which saves at least 150 kilometres of movement through roads, making communication smooth between the northern and southern districts of the country.
RHD launched Najirganj-Dhawapara ferry ghat in 1997, but the ferry service often remained suspended due to a lack of ferry operational facilities and equipment, Suvash Chandra Bishwas, head of ferry operation of RHD, told The Daily Star yesterday.
So RHD was instructed to hand over Najirganj-Dhawapara ferry service to the BIWTC by an inter ministerial decision last month, he said.
"As per ministerial decision, BIWTC has taken charge of the Najirganj-Dhawapara ferry service on Sunday. We have all necessary facilities for ferry operations," said SM Ashikuzzaman, director (commercial) of BIWTC.
Ferry Kamalia, a K-type ferry, was operated on this route yesterday. The BIWTC spokesperson added that three ferries will be running on this route for now.
"If the demand increases, we will introduce more ferries,'' the director said.
Contacted, Md Safayet Ahmed, manager of BIWTC, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority is currently working to renovate the ferry ghat, while the RHD is repairing the approach roads on both sides.
"Full-fledged operation of Najirganj-Dhawapara ferry service will resume soon after completion of these works," he added.
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