Service to start by end of this month
Without building necessary infrastructure, Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) is going to introduce waterbuses on Aminbazar-Sadarghat route by the end of this month.
In a bid to minimise tedious tailbacks in the city, the vessels will ply the 16 kilometres long waterway. But the landing stations–Kholamura, Sholemashi and Swarighat–are yet to be repaired since its inauguration five years ago.
Roads linking the waterbus terminals are also not suitable for smooth movement of the passengers.
If the approach road to Aminbazar landing station is not developed, the waterbus service will certainly fail to attract passengers, said K Shahriar Iqbal, associate professor of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering Department, Buet.
Shahriar added that the Aminbazar-Sadarghat route is not navigable enough for the water transports to run smoothly.
Moreover zigzag waterways and presence of hundreds of little boats in the canal will cause the waterbuses to move slowly.
Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan said it would be possible to operate the waterbuses within the existing infrastructure, adding, “We will repair or reconstruct those later if necessary.”
A source of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) suggested that the introduction of waterbus service on Mirpur-Sadarghat route would be more fruitful than that of the Aminbazar-Sadarghat.
Aminbazar landing station is over 200 feet away from the main road and to be reached by walking, which is difficult for the passengers, the source added.
Both Roads and Highways Department (RHD) and BIWTA should work together to make a viable transport network so that people can move easily from land to river, according to a BIWTA source.
Shipping Secretary Abdul Mannan Hawlader said “If the passengers can move through Sadarghat terminal despite some difficulties, they would be able to use those landing stations too.”
Mannan added that waterbus terminals and approach roads would be repaired or modernised later if necessary.
The BIWTC has not yet decided which satiations the waterbuses will touch and what the fare will be.
“We will take decision about this immediately and fare will certainly be reasonable,” said Mannan.
The date of handing over waterbuses constructed by Three Angle Marine Consultant Ltd to the BIWTC was deferred on August 19 and 22.
BIWTC Chairman Golam Mostafa Kamal said, “The construction company is ready to handover. We are checking the vessels which is delaying the entire process.”
Each of the two waterbuses cost Tk 55.75 lakh for construction and has 35 seats. These high-speed vehicles will be able to move 22.8 kilometres per hour on 28 litres of fuel, a statement from BIWTC said.
