After being suspended for more than a week, the ferry services on Shimulia-Kawrakandi route has got back its normal pace with plying of 16 ferries from Saturday.
A total of 16 ferries including dump, co-type, medium and small ones are carrying vehicles to cross the mighty Padma, easing Eid bound passengers’ journey to the southern districts of the country.
The ferries are taking some 20/25 minutes more than the normal time due to poor navigability in Louhojong channel.
Moreover, no RoRo ferry was plying on the route due to navigability crisis.
Usually around 1000/1200 vehicles were being ferried each day in last week, but a total of 2300 vehicles crossed the channel on Saturday, said Khandaker Shah Khaled Newaz, assistant general manager of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) office in Shimulia.
Once the normalcy returns, more than 50,000 vehicles will be able to cross the river through this route, he added.
Home-bound people ahead of Eid-ul-Azha are using alternate ways like speedboats, launches to reach their destination.
From August 13, the ferry services on the route were suspended due to poor navigability as the channel had only 5 feet of water whereas the required limit is 7-8 feet.
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