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New ferry terminal at Shimulia soon

| Updated: August 08, 2020 12:15:19


File photo used for representational purpose File photo used for representational purpose

The government has taken a move to build a new ferry ghat at Shimulia in Munshiganj to facilitate hassle-free movement of passengers and vehicles, an official said.

As part of the move, the shipping ministry has directed the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) for taking necessary steps in this regard.

"We have received the directives from the shipping ministry to start the process of setting up a new ferry ghat at Shimulia in Munshiganj to ensure uninterrupted movement of passengers and vehicles on the Shimulia-Kathalbari river route," a designated engineer of BIWTA who is involved with the process told the FE on Friday.

He said the River Padma devoured the approach road of a ferry ghat (ghat no. 4) on Thursday last as river erosion has recently taken a serious turn.

Earlier, the approach road of three no. ro-ro ferry ghat on the Shimulia side was also damaged due to river erosion.

To avoid any untoward incidents, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) imposed restrictions since Thursday last on the movement of big ferries on the Shimulia-Kathalbari river route in the River Padma.

The BIWTC has been operating four small ferries for carrying vehicles and passengers through ghat no. one and two at Shimulia ferry ghat.

As launch services on the river route remain suspended, passengers are now using speedboats to cross the mighty river.

The passengers who returned to the capital using Shimulia-Kathalbari river route after celebrating Eid-ul-Azha faced a lot of troubles on Friday due to a shortage of ferries, according to them.

The BIWTA official further said they will start the construction work of the new ferry ghat very soon.

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