Promoting hovercraft service with UK government's assistance
Friday, 12 November 2010
SHALLOW depth of many rivers, canals and 'beels' compels us to take longer detours. Further, shallow draft prevents having permanent ferry crossings and IWT launch terminals and wayside stations. These need to be shifted practically almost every time along with approach roads on both sides of the river for ferry crossings to enable motor vehicles to board the ferry. This is practically a regular problem for most of our land routes where one or even more ferry crossings have to be made.
To overcome these bottlenecks, we should actively consider the use of hovercrafts for both passenger and cargo traffic. This was at one time quite popular for crossing the English Channel between Europe and England. Today, however, the Euro tunnel under the English Channel has made the hovercraft service redundant.
In my opinion, our government could actively take up the matter with the British government to introduce hovercraft services across our shallow waterways and marshland and other water bodies for direct and easier communication. The use of hovercraft will allow both passenger and cargo traffic across many of our river and other waterways. This will save considerable time and money in the form of extra fuel for trucks and passenger motor vehicles being saved. The hovercraft service will possibly prove to be economic in the long run. It will also encourage the growth of movement of goods and people between the eastern and south-western zones of Bangladesh.
Engr. S.A. Mansoor
Dhaka
To overcome these bottlenecks, we should actively consider the use of hovercrafts for both passenger and cargo traffic. This was at one time quite popular for crossing the English Channel between Europe and England. Today, however, the Euro tunnel under the English Channel has made the hovercraft service redundant.
In my opinion, our government could actively take up the matter with the British government to introduce hovercraft services across our shallow waterways and marshland and other water bodies for direct and easier communication. The use of hovercraft will allow both passenger and cargo traffic across many of our river and other waterways. This will save considerable time and money in the form of extra fuel for trucks and passenger motor vehicles being saved. The hovercraft service will possibly prove to be economic in the long run. It will also encourage the growth of movement of goods and people between the eastern and south-western zones of Bangladesh.
Engr. S.A. Mansoor
Dhaka