Another water way to be set up around capital
Wednesday, 13 April 2011
Badrul Ahsan
Setting up of another 40-kilometre circular water way around Dhaka city will reduce the city's traffic jam significantly, officials said. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) had taken the decision to set up another 40-kilometre water way around the city with four more landing stations at Kanchpur, Isapura, Kaiethpara and Tongi. The new water way will be from Ashulia to Kanchpur covering a 40-kilometre distance and would cost Tk 650 million. The new waterway is expected to start its operation in 2012, sources said. After completion of the new water way project, total waterway around the city will be 110 kilometres, officials said. Project Director of the water way Rokibul Islam Talukder told the FE that after the implementation of 40-kilometre water way project, it would help avoid a considerable number of trucks and covered vans passing through the highways of the capital and would thus reduce traffic jam significantly. "The circular water way will reduce the traffic jam, carbon emission; and would also reduce transportation cost of goods," he expressed his optimism. He said the BIWTA's decision was influenced by the success story of the existing 30-kilometre water way. At present, sand, stone, bricks, fertiliser, coal, wood, vegetables etc. are carried through the waterway to the northern, western and southern parts of the country, Besides, implementation of the new plan will enable the government to run the water buses more successfully. Currently, two water buses are operating in the existing water way. The authority of BIWTC has taken a plan to launch another 14 water buses in phases which will enable thousands of passengers to use the water way in future.
Setting up of another 40-kilometre circular water way around Dhaka city will reduce the city's traffic jam significantly, officials said. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) had taken the decision to set up another 40-kilometre water way around the city with four more landing stations at Kanchpur, Isapura, Kaiethpara and Tongi. The new water way will be from Ashulia to Kanchpur covering a 40-kilometre distance and would cost Tk 650 million. The new waterway is expected to start its operation in 2012, sources said. After completion of the new water way project, total waterway around the city will be 110 kilometres, officials said. Project Director of the water way Rokibul Islam Talukder told the FE that after the implementation of 40-kilometre water way project, it would help avoid a considerable number of trucks and covered vans passing through the highways of the capital and would thus reduce traffic jam significantly. "The circular water way will reduce the traffic jam, carbon emission; and would also reduce transportation cost of goods," he expressed his optimism. He said the BIWTA's decision was influenced by the success story of the existing 30-kilometre water way. At present, sand, stone, bricks, fertiliser, coal, wood, vegetables etc. are carried through the waterway to the northern, western and southern parts of the country, Besides, implementation of the new plan will enable the government to run the water buses more successfully. Currently, two water buses are operating in the existing water way. The authority of BIWTC has taken a plan to launch another 14 water buses in phases which will enable thousands of passengers to use the water way in future.