800 trucks stuck at Paturia-Daulatdia ferry terminal
One of the large ferries operating there, Amanat Shah, is out of service
A ferry crisis on Friday has caused severe traffic congestion on both sides of the Paturia-Daulatdia terminal as 800 trucks have yet to cross the river.
One of the large ferries operating there, Amanat Shah, is out of service because of technical problems and is currently being repaired. The shortage of ferries is causing trouble for the transportees, said the terminal authorities.
Ali Hossain, the driver of a Magura-bound truck, said he arrived at Paturia Ferry Terminal on Thursday evening.
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"About 14 hours have passed since then but I have not received my ferry ticket yet," he said.
Another truck driver heading to Faridpur said the authorities would allow trucks to cross only if there was no pressure from buses and small vehicles in the terminal area.
Mohiuddin Russell, assistant manager of commerce at the Aricha office of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC), said 19 ferries used to operate on the Paturia-Daulatdia route.
"Two of the ferries have gone to the Mawa terminal. Another ferry broke down and is at the repair factory," he added.
He noted that the congestion of goods-laden trucks is increasing in the ghat area due to the amount of vehicles outnumbering the capacity amount of servicing ferries.
Shibalaya Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Firoz Kabir said trucks heading to the terminal are being stopped at the Uthuli area of the highway six kilometers before the crossing due to excessive traffic congestion in the area.
"If the truck pressure in the ferry area decreases, some of the trucks will be sent to the terminal from the highway according to the serial," he added.
BIWTC Aricha office Deputy General Manager (DGM) Zillur Rahman told The Business Standard the misery of the stranded truck drivers is increasing due to the shortage of ferries on the route. "It is not going to be resolved very easily," he added.
The Amanat Shah ferry is being repaired at Madhumati Floating Repair Factory in the Paturia Ferry Terminal area.
