Tailbacks on Dhaka-Ctg highway persists, CPA offers water routes for container deliveries

Highlights:

• Traffic on Ctg-bound lane increased
• Previous container backlog has eased
• Alternate water routes for container deliveries offered
• Pangaon inland deport on Buriganga River prepared to receive deliveries

Mohammad Sujon, a covered van driver, started his journey for Chattogram from Dhaka on Saturday but after two days on the road, enduring hours of severe traffic congestion, he only managed to reach Mohipal in Feni around 1pm yesterday.

Now, he is worried about how many more days it will take to reach the Chattogram port.

The congestion is not just faced by vehicles heading from Dhaka to Chattogram; truck drivers travelling from Chattogram are also stuck for three to four days in areas like Chhagalnaiya and Mohipal in Feni, and Chauddagram in Cumilla.

As a result, drivers are not being able to deliver goods from the Chattogram port, and export goods-laden vehicles are unable to reach the depots.

Such a situation is continuing almost a week now as parts of the Dhaka-Chattogram highway are submerged by floodwaters, and adding to the woes are potholes here and there, and engine failures of gas-powered vehicles. 

This disruption has led to a decrease in container deliveries at the Chattogram port, leading to the authorities offering shipping routes.

After visiting several areas from Mirsarai in Chattogram to Mohipal in Feni yesterday, this correspondent found that traffic congestion on the Dhaka-bound lane has slightly improved. On Sunday, the Dhaka-bound lane from Mirsarai was congested, but yesterday, the Chattogram-bound lane saw increased traffic.

However, this unfortunate congestion has sorted out another worrying issue. 

As the number of vehicles carrying export goods has decreased in the past few days, the container backlog caused by earlier student protests and political unrest is almost resolved.

As of 8am yesterday, there were 8,290 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units) of export containers across 19 depots. Normally, these depots handle 7,000 to 8,000 TEUs daily, but two weeks ago, the number had reached 15,000 TEUs.

Ruhul Amin Shikder, secretary of the Bangladesh Inland Container Depots Association (Bicda), told The Business Standard that traffic on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway has been almost at halt for the past five days due to flooding. 

"As a result, the number of covered vans carrying export goods to the depots has decreased to a quarter of the usual volume. Today [yesterday], 1,124 trucks reached the depots, compared to 658 on 25 August and 985 on 24 August. Normally, 3,000 to 3,500 trucks and covered vans arrive at the depots daily," he said.

Shikder added, "The container backlog at the depots has cleared up due to the reduced arrival of goods in recent days. However, once the traffic eases, a large influx of goods is expected, which may create a new backlog."

According to Bicda, as of yesterday, there were 8,290 TEUs of export containers, 8,645 TEUs of import containers, and 49,924 TEUs of empty containers across 19 depots in Chattogram.

Under normal circumstances, the depots hold about 8,000 TEUs of export containers. During the recent quota reform protests, this number exceeded 15,000 TEUs, reaching 15,075 TEUs on 16 August.

Port authorities offer alternative water routes for container deliveries

Meanwhile, the disruption of traffic movement on the Dhaka-Chattogram highway has led to a decrease in container deliveries at the Chattogram port. 

Although daily container deliveries typically exceed 4,000 TEUs, only 1,753 TEUs were delivered in the 24 hours preceding 8am yesterday. On Sunday, 1,647 TEUs were delivered, and on Saturday, the figure was 1,929 TEUs.

To address the slowdown, the Chittagong Port Authority has offered to ship containers via water routes. Importers can now transport goods to the Pangaon Inland Container Terminal on the Buriganga River by ship and take delivery from there, instead of relying on the disrupted road or rail routes to Dhaka.

The port has made all necessary logistics and sufficient inland ships available for this purpose.

Chittagong Port Authority Secretary Omar Faruk said, "Given the current flood situation, importers and exporters are compelled to halt the transportation of containerised goods via road or rail on the Chattogram-Dhaka-Chattogram route.

"In response, the National Board of Revenue (NBR) and the Chittagong Port Authority are fully prepared to provide all necessary support."

As of yesterday morning, the Chattogram port had 39,247 TEUs of containers against a capacity of 53,518 TEUs in various yards and jetties.