Ferries to ply new routes

Ferries running on the Mawa-Zajira route across the Padma River will operate elsewhere after the Padma Bridge’s inauguration.

Most of the ferries may be sent to Harina ghat to operate on the Chandpur-Shariatpur route across the Meghna River and also the Aricha-Kazirhat one, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials say.

Md Shafiqul Islam, assistant general manager (commercial) of the BIWTC’s Shimulia-Mawa unit, told The Business Post the final decision on the new routes had not been made yet.

“But we have been verbally told that the ferries will run on the Chandpur-Shariatpur and Aricha-Kazirhat routes.”

Eight ferries with 300 workers now run across the Padma River.

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Shafiqul said a limited number of ferries might continue to operate on the old route and the overall situation would be observed then.

“Besides, Bangladesh Bridge Authority is yet to set weight limits for lorries that will run on the Padma Bridge,” he said. He further said 2,200-2,300 vehicles cross the Padma River through ferries daily, including 400-500 motorbikes.

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Meanwhile, BIWTC will start a new ferry service between Bhola mainland and Monpura upazila.

A feasibility study report prepared by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said around 62,500 passengers travel on the Mawa-Zajira route every day by 2,909 vehicles, including 1,295 trucks, 700 light vehicles, and 914 buses.

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The average time to cross the Padma River is two hours and a half in the high water level season and two hours in the low water level season.

The JICA study also said a bus has to wait for 66 minutes for a ferry while the waiting time for a truck is 109 minutes. Besides, 188 minutes are required for a bus to cross the river, including waiting time, and up to 231 minutes for a truck.

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With the Padma Bridge’s inauguration, the daily operating costs of vehicles will fall, resulting in savings of Tk 438 crore per year.