DHAKA: Now go boating round the capital to avoid getting caught in impassable traffic tailbacks in the overcrowded city.      

The alternative route to and from the metropolis opens Saturday with the government launching ‘waterbus’ services from Sadarghat to Gabtoli in the first phase in a bid to ease the traffic jams in the capital.

Shipping Minister Shahjahan Khan is expected to inaugurate the transport service at Gabtoli Landing Station at 10am Saturday, said sources.

Two waterbuses named after two rivers, ‘Turag’ and ‘Buriganga’, will ply under the service on Sadarghat-Swarighat-Kholamura-Gabtoli route from 7am to 6pm everyday.

A total of Tk 1 crore and 11.50 lakh has been spent on the building of the two waterway buses.

A waterbus will carry 35 passengers with a speed of 22.48 km or 12 nautical miles per hour.

Fare for the ferrying has been fixed at Tk 30, sources added.

BDST: 1953 HRS, AUG 26, 2010