reducing pressure on Bangabandhu bridge

Aricha-Naradaha ferry services on cards

The government has decided to introduce a new ferry service on the Aricha-Naradaha route to reduce pressure on the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge. The shipping ministry has asked the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to launch the new route immediately. About Tk. 350–400 crore will be needed to build the new Aricha-Naradaha ferry route. “We have directed the BIWTC to introduce a ferry service between Aricha in Manikganj and Naradaha in Pabna immediately. This 9-km route will help ease the vehicular pressure on the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge,” shipping minister Shajahan Khan told The Independent. Besides, it will also save fuel and transport costs, he added.

The minister said he has also instructed the authority concerned to conduct a feasibility study for the introduction of more ferry routes in the country.

“We have decided to introduce ferry routes at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur and Balashighat in Gaibandha. We have also instructed the authorities concerned to build the required infrastructure on the said ferry routes after the completion of the feasibility studies,” the shipping minister said in reply to a query.

The BIWTA is responsible for the construction of the ferry terminal and dredging the river channel for the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route.

It will take a minimum of one hour to cross the Padma between Aricha point in Manikganj and Naradaha point in Pabna by ferries, BIWTA Chairman Commodore Mozammel Huq told this correspondent.

“The channel will be made straight through the removal of shoals by dredging. A study to this effect is currently underway,” he added.

It would also reduce the pressure of vehicular movement on the Paturia terminal, he said, adding, “Bus, truck and other vehicles can enter Pabna directly after the completion of the Aricha-Naradaha ferry terminal.”

He said that the old ferry terminal at Aricha will be re-launched after renovation.  “This ferry route will be used as an alternate if any trouble occurs at the Bangabandhu Bridge. Traveling hours will also reduce between Dhaka and Pabna after the completion of the newly proposed ferry services,” the BIWTA chairman said in reply to a query. “We are conducting a feasibility study now and it will take about four months to get the study report,” Mydul Islam, chief engineer (engineering) of BIWTA, told this correspondent yesterday.

A development project proposal (DPP) will be prepared after the completion of the study on the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route, he said, adding that the proposal will be sent to the shipping ministry for recommendation within five months.

“Then, the DPP will be sent to the Planning Commission and later to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval,” Islam said.

When asked about the cost of the project, he replied, “It is tough to say that before the completion of the study report. A rough estimate suggests that about Tk. 350–400 crore will be needed to build the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route.”

They will be able to start the construction in six to seven months, he said.

 

reducing pressure on Bangabandhu bridge

Aricha-Naradaha ferry services on cards

The government has decided to introduce a new ferry service on the Aricha-Naradaha route to reduce pressure on the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge. The shipping ministry has asked the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) to launch the new route immediately. About Tk. 350400 crore will be needed to build the new Aricha-Naradaha ferry route. We have directed the BIWTC to introduce a ferry service between Aricha in Manikganj and Naradaha in Pabna immediately. This 9-km route will help ease the vehicular pressure on the Bangabandhu Jamuna Bridge, shipping minister Shajahan Khan told The Independent. Besides, it will also save fuel and transport costs, he added. The minister said he has also instructed the authority concerned to conduct a feasibility study for the introduction of more ferry routes in the country. We have decided to introduce ferry routes at Bahadurabad in Jamalpur and Balashighat in Gaibandha. We have also instructed the authorities concerned to build the required infrastructure on the said ferry routes after the completion of the feasibility studies, the shipping minister said in reply to a query. The BIWTA is responsible for the construction of the ferry terminal and dredging the river channel for the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route. It will take a minimum of one hour to cross the Padma between Aricha point in Manikganj and Naradaha point in Pabna by ferries, BIWTA Chairman Commodore Mozammel Huq told this correspondent. The channel will be made straight through the removal of shoals by dredging. A study to this effect is currently underway, he added. It would also reduce the pressure of vehicular movement on the Paturia terminal, he said, adding, Bus, truck and other vehicles can enter Pabna directly after the completion of the Aricha-Naradaha ferry terminal. He said that the old ferry terminal at Aricha will be re-launched after renovation. This ferry route will be used as an alternate if any trouble occurs at the Bangabandhu Bridge. Traveling hours will also reduce between Dhaka and Pabna after the completion of the newly proposed ferry services, the BIWTA chairman said in reply to a query. We are conducting a feasibility study now and it will take about four months to get the study report, Mydul Islam, chief engineer (engineering) of BIWTA, told this correspondent yesterday. A development project proposal (DPP) will be prepared after the completion of the study on the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route, he said, adding that the proposal will be sent to the shipping ministry for recommendation within five months. Then, the DPP will be sent to the Planning Commission and later to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for approval, Islam said. When asked about the cost of the project, he replied, It is tough to say that before the completion of the study report. A rough estimate suggests that about Tk. 350400 crore will be needed to build the Aricha-Naradaha ferry route. They will be able to start the construction in six to seven months, he said.