Paturia ferry service may not return to normal soon

A dredger in operation in the Paturia-Daulatdia channel in the Padma. PHOTO: STAR

BIWTA officials yesterday claimed that normal ferry operation in Paturia terminal could be resumed in three days.

But other sources said it would not be possible as the water level of the Padma is falling fast, which would need dredging for a long time.

Tap here to add The Daily Star as a trusted source

Three dredgers removed about 50,000 cubic meters of silt from in front of Paturia terminal since the operation began on September 7, BIWTA sources said.

At least 11 lakh cubic meters of silt will have to be removed only from the Paturia terminal area to ensure normal ferry operation. This will need Tk 6 crore, they said.

A three-kilometer shoal has emerged in front of Paturia ferry terminal, allegedly because of unplanned dredging earlier, other sources said.

Ferry vessels ply the routes with risk as their propellers at times touch sand under water, operators said.

Sources in BIWTA (Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority) said two more dredgers will be engaged soon to make the channels navigable again.

This correspondent during a visit to the area on Monday saw silt removed from the channel were being dumped at a short distance. Long snarl-up of vehicles were seen at Paturia and Daulatdis terminals as two out of three ghats in Paturia could not be operated. Ferry vessels could not approach and anchor at the two terminals due to deposit of silt.

Vessel operators said this is no solution as the silt will roll back into the channel soon.

Over Tk 100 crore were spent for dredging in the area in last 13 years but it was of little use because of corruption in survey, unplanned dredging and irregularities by a section of officials, they alleged.

Paturia-Daulatdia and Paturia-Nagarbari (Kazirhat) routes are vital because they link the capital with south and south-western districts of the country.