(43.19) For the dredging, the movement of Kathalbari-Shimulia Route has been closed
BIWTC has announced shutdown of all types of vessels including ferry till further notice for the dredging work of Padma river in Kathalbari-Shimulia river route. This announcement was made Saturday afternoon.
BIWTC Kathalbari Ferrygate Manager Salam Hossain said, due to the decreasing water of Padma, navigability crisis has been created in the river Padma. Due to diversion of ferries, ferry services are hampered for more than a week. Ferry movement is risky during excavation. A few days before the dredging collapsed with pipes, the floor of the ferry exploded a bit. Ferries were rescued by water filling and irrigation. BIWTC has announced closure of all types of vessels including Ferris until the next announcement for excavation.
Meanwhile, in the last one week, ferry services were intercepted in Kathalbari Ghat, waiting for more than 500 truckloads of trucks to cross. These trucks and other vehicles have been advised to use Paturia-Daulatdia Ghat as an alternative route.