Ferry movement suspended due to heavy siltation

People using the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry services to go to south-western districts out of the capital and those coming in with vegetables and essential supplies by trucks will suffer till November until the waterway is fully operational for ferries to navigate it with appropriate draft, a top official of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told The Independent yesterday.
Besides, the huge volume of homebound and cattle traffic during the
Eid-ul-Azha holidays are likely to face immense difficulties in crossing the mighty Padma due to navigability
problems.
Big ferries, carrying a large number of vehicular traffic, are unable to operate due to the lack of navigability, which requires at least 7.5-feet draft on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route, sources said.
As a result, the authorities suspended the Ro Ro ferry services on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route in the early hours of Friday due to poor
navigability, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the ferry terminal.
Shipping Minister, Shajahan Khan, directed the BIWTA officials to keep the channel navigable at any cost in order to ease the sufferings of the people during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays so that homebound people can travel without hindrance.
When contacted, BIWTA Chairman, Commodore Mozammel Huq, said, “We have already deployed four dredgers to keep the route operational. Considering the draft, only utility ferries can ply on the route since these
need only four to five feet of draft to operate.”
It would take about 10 days to complete the dredging work, he said, adding that, all Ro Ro ferries have been sent to Aricha, while utility ferries have been shifted to the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route.
The BIWTA Chairman said, “Now the draft of water on the ferry route of the main channel has reduced to six feet due to heavy siltation swept by the fast current of the river caused by the piling work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge.”
While no one can predict the nature of the river, BIWTA Chief Engineer (dredging), MA Matin, informed that an alternate channel is being opened alongside the main channel on the ferry route.
“A char is being developed alongside the main channel of the ferry route and we are examining it. Another alternate channel will be opened for the up portion after the completion of the down portion,” he added.
An emergency meeting will be
held on Sunday with the Bridges Division and Shipping Ministry to
solve the problems created by the piling work of the PMB, BIWTA sources added.
At least 1,000 different types of vehicles are waiting on both sides of the ferry terminal to cross the river. As a result, thousands of passengers are forced to wait for long hours due to the suspension of ferry movements.

 

 

Ferry movement suspended due to heavy siltation

People using the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry services to go to south-western districts out of the capital and those coming in with vegetables and essential supplies by trucks will suffer till November until the waterway is fully operational for ferries to navigate it with appropriate draft, a top official of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) told The Independent yesterday. Besides, the huge volume of homebound and cattle traffic during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays are likely to face immense difficulties in crossing the mighty Padma due to navigability problems. Big ferries, carrying a large number of vehicular traffic, are unable to operate due to the lack of navigability, which requires at least 7.5-feet draft on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi ferry route, sources said. As a result, the authorities suspended the Ro Ro ferry services on the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route in the early hours of Friday due to poor navigability, causing severe traffic congestion on both sides of the ferry terminal. Shipping Minister, Shajahan Khan, directed the BIWTA officials to keep the channel navigable at any cost in order to ease the sufferings of the people during the Eid-ul-Azha holidays so that homebound people can travel without hindrance. When contacted, BIWTA Chairman, Commodore Mozammel Huq, said, We have already deployed four dredgers to keep the route operational. Considering the draft, only utility ferries can ply on the route since these need only four to five feet of draft to operate. It would take about 10 days to complete the dredging work, he said, adding that, all Ro Ro ferries have been sent to Aricha, while utility ferries have been shifted to the Shimulia-Kewrakandi route. The BIWTA Chairman said, Now the draft of water on the ferry route of the main channel has reduced to six feet due to heavy siltation swept by the fast current of the river caused by the piling work of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. While no one can predict the nature of the river, BIWTA Chief Engineer (dredging), MA Matin, informed that an alternate channel is being opened alongside the main channel on the ferry route. A char is being developed alongside the main channel of the ferry route and we are examining it. Another alternate channel will be opened for the up portion after the completion of the down portion, he added. An emergency meeting will be held on Sunday with the Bridges Division and Shipping Ministry to solve the problems created by the piling work of the PMB, BIWTA sources added. At least 1,000 different types of vehicles are waiting on both sides of the ferry terminal to cross the river. As a result, thousands of passengers are forced to wait for long hours due to the suspension of ferry movements.