National
4 years ago

Turbulent Padma disrupts ferry service on Daulatdia-Paturia waterway  

Eid holidaymakers crowded the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry to cross the Padma river. The photograph was taken from the Daulatdia ferry ghat on Sunday — FE Photo
Eid holidaymakers crowded the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry to cross the Padma river. The photograph was taken from the Daulatdia ferry ghat on Sunday — FE Photo

Published :

Updated :

Ferry services on the Daulatdia-Paturia ghat is being disrupted due to strong currents in the Padma river.

Celebrating Eid many people are also returning to Dhaka city on the Shimulia-Kanthalbari route, as a result huge vehicles are waiting for crossing the river since last Friday.

More than five hundred vehicles with passengers got stranded and went through immense suffering for 4/5 hours in the hot and humid weather.

On the other hand, about four kilometres of the Dhaka-Khulna highway and about five kilometres of the Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway from Daulatdia ferry ghat created a tailback. Meanwhile, hygiene is not being observed in ferries and launches.

In this regard, BIWTA traffic inspector Aftab Hossain, who is working at Daulatdia launch dock, said, "We are trying our best to get passengers on board the launch in compliance with the hygiene rules." But most of the passengers are not listening to us.

Meanwhile, due to limited ferry traffic at Mawa Ghat, all the buses and trucks on the route came simultaneously from yesterday to cross the river on the Daulatdia-Paturia route, causing severe traffic congestion at the ghat. Many are getting on ferries and launches on foot. '

On the other hand, to avoid traffic jam at Daulatdia Ghat and to allow passenger buses to cross on priority basis, the trucks have been stopped on the Rajbari-Kushtia road at Goalunda junction, 6 km away from Rajbari Police Administration Ghat.

Truck drivers said many of them were stuck on the road for two to three days. This is increasing their cost. Many drivers and helpers are forced to cook on the road. They said that the number of cereals would have come down if a few freight trucks had been allowed to cross each ferry.

BIWTC's Daulatdia Ghat manager, Abu Abdullah Rony said there were currently 16 ferries plying the route. Small cars and passenger buses are being crossed on priority basis. Freight trucks will be able to cross when the pressure of passenger transport is reduced. Besides, it takes twice as long to cross the ferry due to strong currents in the river.

[email protected]

Share this news