For the first time the government would introduce modern waterbuses for the convenience of the city commuters and facilitate trouble free journeys bypassing the traffic congestions. The initiative is part of the government’s long-term plans to introduce such passenger waterbuses on a professional manner recognizing similar river commuting services existing in the developed countries.
The waterbuses, commonly used in the West for commuting as well as for sightseeing, would bring efficiency and drastically improve river transportation as the boats are highly environment friendly and safe. Usually such design of modern waterbuses literally have no risk of drowning and passengers are transported in great comfort even in rough weathers.
With the introduction of such advanced water transport boats the city commuters may soon start to enjoy the benefits of travelling on river routes and adapt to using such transport more as routine habit. Despite having four rivers around the capital (Buriganga, Turag, Balu and Shitalkkha) no such initiatives were taken before to explore the potentials of institutionalizing river transportation. The waterbuses would surely be popularize in the near future.
In view of the decision the Ministry of Shipping on Thursday announced launching four waterbuses to connect Keraniganj and Sadarghat route in a bid to reduce the existing sufferings of passengers. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Bangladesh Inland Shipping Corporation (BIWTC) at the Secretariats of Ministry of Shipping, according to a press release, issued by the Ministry of Shipping. State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury presided over the meeting.
According to the decision of the meeting, BIWTC has some 12 waterbuses. Of those, one waterbus has been given lease to a private company, which is being used for tourism purposes at Buriganga River. The remaining 11 waterbuses, some of which are 56 and 31 seat capoacities, are being used at Gabtoli to Waiseghatt and Narayanganj to Tongi route.
The proposed introduction of the waterbuses would come from recalling four from the 11 waterbuses already in use at Gabtoli to Waiseghatt and Narayanganj to Tongi route. There are water taxi services operational in the capital’s Hatirjheel area. Passengers of Keraniganj use traditional country (wooden) boats to cross the Buriganga River, falling victims to boat capsizes at times.
It is expected that if the waterbus services are introduced in the Buriganga river, the number of accident will decrease. According to the Shipping Ministry, BIWTC has earned about Tk 4.5 crore from November 2018 to August 31, 2019 from its four container carrying ships include MV Udayan, MV Uddipan, MV Uttaran and MV Unnayan.
Whereas the operational cost of these buses were Tk 2.4 crore during this time. It was also emphasized in the meeting to increase the revenue income by conducting regular service of container vessels. The BIWTC also earned Tk 97 crore from the Weighbridge scale (weight measurement scale) from December 2013 to August 2019 and Tk 1 crore from Racker. BIWTC ferried about 3,048,629 buses, trucks and other vehicles on 10 ferry routes during 2018-2019 fiscal year. Currently, there are 45 ferries are operating in these routes. The work to collect more 12 ferry and introduce some 19 new ferry routes is underway.
