Ferry services
Strong current disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services, 400 vehicles stranded
Ferry services on the busy Paturia-Daulatdia route have been severely disrupted owing to strong current in the Padma since Friday morning.
The disruption has triggered a serpentine queue of vehicles at Paturia ferry ghat in Manikganj. Since morning, hundreds of vehicles, including 300 trucks, have been waiting at the ferry ghat to cross the river.
Read: Ferry services resume on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route after 7 hours
Ferries are taking more time to reach their destinations due to the strong river current with the rise of water in the Padma, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation's (BIWTC) Aricha sector DGM Sheikh Shah Newaz.
Besides, ferry services on the Shimulia-Kathalbari route are closed, as a result of which vehicles of that route have thronged this ghat. "Some 400 vehicles are stuck in the terminal area on both sides," he said.
Read: BIWTC announces 20pc rise in ferry, ship fare
A 3-4km tailback of trucks has been created on the highway of the Paturia ghat area, as commuter buses are prioritised to cross the river first, said the BIWTC official.
At present, 18 of 21 ferries are in service on the Paturia-Daulatdia route, he added.
Strong current disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services
Ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route has been severely hampered due to strong current in the Padma since Sunday morning.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Aricha Sector Manager Mohiuddin Russell said it takes more time for the ferries to reach their destinations due to strong current with the rise of water in the Padma.
Also read:Ferry services resume on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route after 7 hours
As a result, more than 400 vehicles have been stuck in the terminal area, he added.
Hundreds of buses, private cars and microbuses and 300 trucks were stranded at Paturia terminal to cross the river.
Three to four kilometers long tailback of trucks were created on the highway at Sari Ghat area.
Also read: Two ferries collide in Padma; 1 killed
Meanwhile, the pontoons of the ferry have been shifted from low to medium level. And if the water level increases by only two centimeters, the pontoons will have to be taken to the upper level, said the BIWTC official.
At present, 17 out of 19 ferries are on service on Paturia-Daulatdia route.
Ferry services resume on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route after 7 hours
Ferry services on Shimulia-Majhirkandi route resumed Monday morning after seven hours of suspension due to strong current in the Padma River.
The ferry service resumed after 5 am with operation of five ferries, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials.
BIWTC announced the suspension of the ferry services around 10:15 pm on Sunday to avert possible accidents.
Also read:Two ferries collide in Padma; 1 killed
Vehicles and passengers stranded at night are now crossing the river through ferries Kunjalta, Begum Rokeya, Begum Sufia Kamal, Cumilla, Faridpur.
Meanwhile, a man was killed and another went missing as two ferries collided head-on in the Padma River near Jajira in Shariatpur district on the Shimulia-Majhirkandi route in the early hours on Sunday.
Ten people on both the ferries- Begum Rokeya and Begum Sufia Kamal -sustained injuries.
The BIWTC formed a four-member probe committee in this regard. Besides, the junior masters of the two ferries have been suspended.
Khalid urges passengers to cross river through Paturia instead of Shimulia
State Minister for Shipping Khalid Mahmud Chowdhury on Friday requested passengers to take Paturia route in Manikganj instead of Shimulia to cross the Padma during Eid journey as a lower number of ferries are in service at Shimulia.
There are 10 ferries on service in Shimulia of Munshiganj, 21 in Paturia of Manikganj and four in Aricha. In the morning there is extra pressure of passengers and vehicles in Shimulia terminal, said the state minister while inspecting the Shimulia launch and ferry terminal at Munshiganj.
Also read:Mad rush of homebound people at Shimulia ferry ghat
As per the previous instructions, heavy vehicles are not being allowed to cross the ferry in Shimulia and only small vehicles are being ferried at Shimulia terminal, he said.
“I am requesting to use Paturia route instead of Shimulia to avoid additional traffic congestion.”
Considering the overall safety of the Padma Bridge, 10 good quality ferries have been in service at Shimulia terminal, said Khalid.
“I request you to follow the instructions of the government. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will open the Padma Bridge for traffic in the next few months.”
Paturia ghat sees huge crowd; Passengers suffer as 2 ferries remain inoperative
With five days left before Eid-ul-Fitr, Paturia ferry terminal authorities in Manikganj struggle to handle huge rush of passengers, vehicles heading towards 21 South-Western districts of the country. Amid the mad rush of homebound people, two of the 19 ferries- Birsreshtha Ruhul Amin and Enayetpuri- on this route went out of order, increasing the sufferings of passengers.
Also read: New ferry terminal to be launched before Eid to ease holidaymakers’ journey
Three other ferries that also went out of order earlier are now operating again on the route after temporary maintenance, said Shahnewaj, Deputy General Manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) Aricha sector. He said on Tuesday some 500 trucks, private vehicles, buses remained waiting in queues for their turn to cross the river. Private cars, microbuses need to wait for two to three hours to cross the river, claimed the passengers.
They alleged that due to excessive goods-laden trucks other vehicles have to wait for a longer period.
Also read:Ferry services resume on Paturia-Daulatdia route after 4 hours BIWTA DGM Shahnewaj said, ”The ferries went out of order due to relentless services for the last few days but within the next two days two more ferries will start operation.” Additional Deputy Inspector General Zihadul Kabir after visiting Paturia Ghat said police along with other law enforcement agencies will work actively to keep the terminal jam-free and ensure safe journey of holidaymakers.
Ferry services resume on Paturia-Daulatdia route after 4 hours
Commuters heaved a sigh of relief Friday morning, with the authorities resuming ferry services on the busy Paturia-Daulatdia route after a four-hour suspension due to dense fog.
The ferry services on the route were halted around 2.30 am owing to poor visibility due to dense fog but resumed around 7am, said Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) officials.
Due to the suspension, two ferries got stranded in the middle of the Padma River, said Abdus Salam, Aricha sector manager of BIWTC.
Also read: Fog forces Shimulia port authorities to suspend ferry services
"The ferries returned safely to the terminal after the fog cleared. And 13 ferries waiting at the terminal also started operating," he said.
Meanwhile, due to the disruption of the ferry services, the Paturia terminal witnessed a long tailback of vehicles. At least 200 night coaches, 150 private cars, and 400 goods laden trucks and other vehicles had to wait for crossing the river.
Also read: Dense fog disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services
Fog forces Shimulia port authorities to suspend ferry services
Authorities have suspended ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar and Shimulia-Majhirkandi routes since early Thursday due to poor visibility owing to dense winter fog.
Md Shahadat Hossain, Shimulia port officer of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said the ferry services were halted from 2.30 am due to poor visibility.
"Four ferries have been anchored, while some 250 vehicles also got stuck due to the suspension of services," said the officer.
Read: Dense fog disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services
Meanwhile, launch and speedboat operations on the two routes have also been suspended since Thursday morning due to poor visibility.
Around 87 launches and 101 speed boats ply on these two routes. "The services will resume once visibility increases," said the port officer.
Dense fog disrupts Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services
Commuters waiting to cross the Padma river had a harrowing time Thursday morning, with the authorities suspending ferry services on the Paturia-Daulatdia route due to dense fog.
Abdus Salam, manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) at Aricha point, said the ferry services were halted from 12 am owing to poor visibility.
Read:After 8 hours, ferry services resume on Paturia-Daulatdia route
One ferry remained stranded in the middle of the Padma, while 11 more ferries were cancelled on the route, officials said.
Several hundred vehicles also got stuck on both sides of the river due to the suspension of the ferry services, Abdus said. ‘’The services will resume once visibility increases," he added.
After 8 hours, ferry services resume on Paturia-Daulatdia route
Commuters heaved a sigh of relief late on Wednesday morning, with the authorities resuming ferry services on the busy Paturia-Daulatdia route after an eight-hour suspension due to dense fog.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transportation Corporation’s (BIWTC) Aricha terminal manager Mahiudddin Rasel said the ferry services were halted around 1.30am owing to poor visibility due to dense fog.
The ferry services resumed around 9.30am, officials told UNB. Passenger vehicles were also allowed to cross the Padma river, with the resumption of the ferry services.
Also read: Ferry movement suspended on Shimulia-Banglabazar route
Due to the fog-induced suspension, at least four ferries -- Barkot, Jahangir, Enayetpury and Rajanigandha -- got stranded in the middle of the Padma river.
Besides, some 12 ferries were cancelled on both sides of the river, giving early morning commuters waiting to cross the Padma river a harrowing time.
Also read: Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route resume after 48 days
Hundreds of passenger vehicles also got stuck due to the suspension of the inland water transport services on the key route.
Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route suspended for bad weather
Ferry services on Shimulia-Banglabazar route were suspended on Thursday noon due to stormy weather.
Mohammad Shafiqul Islam, Assistant General Manager of Bangladesh Inland and Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Shimulia Ferry Ghat, said the ferries on the route were operating with risk due to strong current in the Padma river since morning.
Read:Ferry hits Padma Bridge pillar: BIWTC forms probe committee
Around noon, the authorities suspended the ferry services due to strong current in the river.
Some 600 vehicles were seen waiting on the both sides for crossing the river, he said.
Besides, several hundred people from southern and eastern parts of the country were also seen waiting on the ferry ghats to cross the river.
Read:Maritime ports asked to hoist cautionary signal 3
The maritime ports of Chattogram, Cox’s Bazar, Mongla and Payra have been advised to hoist local cautionary number three as the well marked low over southwestern part of Bangladesh and adjoining area now lies over western part of Bangladesh and adjoining West Bengal.
“Under its influence, deep convection is taking place and a steep pressure gradient lies over North Bay and adjoining areas,” said a Met office bulletin.
Read: Ferry-launch suspended from Friday morning
Squally weather may affect the maritime ports, North Bay and adjoining coastal areas of Bangladesh, it said.
All boats and trawlers over North Bay have been advised to remain close to the coast and proceed with caution till further notice.