Tk 11.37b project on cards to develop infrastructure

The ministry of shipping (MoS) will spend Tk 11.37 billion to develop infrastructure at Daulatdia and Paturia ferry ghats for facilitating movement of passenger and other water vessels.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA), which is under the MoS, has prepared a development project proposal (DPP) in this regard, officials said.
The project works include protection of river banks and development of roads and eight new berthing stations in the ferry ghats.
Besides, maintenance of an approach road connecting the berthing points at Daulatdia will also be done.
Out of the total amount, Tk 6.80 billion will be spent on protecting eight kilometres of river banks of the ghats.
Six kilometres of the riverbanks are located at Daulatdia side while two kilometres at Paturia side.
Bangladesh Water Development Board will supervise the work to be implemented by the BIWTA.
A high official of BIWTA told the FE that the Daulatdia berthing points in Rajbari may get swept away anytime due to erosion by the Padma River.
He said that the project is expected to immediately help saving the ghat from erosion and avoid disruption in Paturia-Daulatdia ferry services.
The BIWTA claimed it has thrown 52,000 sand bags in the river to protect the Daulatdia ferry ghat from erosion.
The government has so far spent Tk 150 million on sand bags since 2015-16 to protect the two ghats from erosion.
"We will start working on the project after getting necessary approval," an additional secretary of the MoS, who is involved with the process, told the FE.
He said the government has formed a five-member committee to take initiatives for protecting the Daulatdia ferry ghat from erosion.

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