RETURNING FROM PATURIA-DAULATDIA: At least 500 trucks carrying essentials, have remained stranded on both sides of the Paturia-Daulatdia ferry ghats due to heavy downstream.

Moreover, two of the 11 ferries running on the route remain out of order.

Truckers have to wait at ghat for additional times as vehicles, carrying passengers, are being ferried on priority basis.

Such information was received from people concerned of  Paturia-Daulatdia ferry ghats while talking to them early Saturday.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Aricha unit's deputy general manager (marine) Abdul Quddus told banglanews that Vessels which run on Daulatdia-Paturia route have been forced to use new route Due to the heavy downstream at the beginning of the rainy season, causing consumption of 20-minitue extra time, he added.

To cross the three-kilometer waterway, ferries are forced to run   extra one and a half kilometer for heavy wave. The number in 24-hour trip of ferries has fallen than ever before, he added.  

Abdul Quddus also said the number of trips has been reduced, but the number of vehicles had not been changed that results a gridlock at both Daulatdia-Paturia ghats. This situation has been continuing for a week, he added.

Local BIWTA source said six ro-ro ferries, five utility ferries and three K-type ferries used to run on the Paturia-Daulatdia route. But Ro-Ro Ferry Birshrestha Hamidur Rahman have remained stopped ferrying vehicles since Friday morning for mechanical fault while K-type ferry Kapoti since Saturday morning.

BIWTC Doulatdia office manager M Shafikul Islam admitted that hundreds of trucks remained stranded at the ghats due to heavy wave, out of order of two ferries and priority on ferrying passenger vehicles.

Around two kilomiters Stretching from Daulatdia ferry ghat to Union Parishad, 5,000 trucks carrying essentials were seen waiting to be loaded on ferry at ghats.

BDST: 1551 HRS, JUN 13, 2015
RS/SMS