Vehicles in long queue at Paturia, Daulatdia ghats
Ferry shortage causes chaos
Vehicles stand in a long queue to enter Paturia ferry terminal as shortage of ferryboats coupled with navigability problem in the ongoing dry season caused a long tailback there yesterday. Photo: STAR
Traffic jam continued on both sides of Paturia-Daulatdia ferry route for the last few days due to shortage of ferries, causing a lot of sufferings to passengers. Sources in the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) said around 600 vehicles including passenger buses and goods laden trucks remained stranded at Paturia and Daulatdia ghat yesterday. Ashraf Ullah Khan, BIWTC manager (commerce), said there are 10 Ro-Ro and two K-type ferries for the route while four or five of them always remain inoperative because of repair work. Six Ro-Ro and two K-type ferries are now in operation on the route and at least four more ferries are needed to keep the ferry service normal, he added. Three ferries--Bir Shrestha Jahangir, Khan Jahan Ali and Shah Ali--have been taken to Narayanganj dockyard a month ago while Shah Poran ferry has remained at Chittagong dockyard for about a year. The condition of Shah Jalal ferry is also very bad and it will also be sent to Narayanganj dockyard for repair work, sources said. However, Bir Shrestha Jahangir ferry is expected to come to Paturia ghat from Narayanganj within a week, Ashraf added. Abdus Sattar, marine officer of BIWTC, said ferries are running on the channel with high risk as propellers of the ferries touch shoals due to navigability problem. At least 10-12 feet deep water level is required for normal ferry movement but the water level is now 7.5 to 8 feet at some points, he said.
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