After being out of service for almost three years, the waterbus that was pressed into service to ferry passengers along the waterway circling Dhaka will be reintroduced on May 25.
Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) recently purchased four waterbuses at a cost of Tk50m to add to its present fleet of two vessels.
The waterbus service was launched for the first time in August 2010, with two waterbuses – Turag and Buriganga. Each of the buses has a capacity of 35 passengers.
Officials at the time hoped that the alternative transport would give city dwellers some relief from the traffic congestion on the streets. Instead, within 11 months of its launching, the service ended in shambles.
Users and operators said the service did not gain popularity because of long waits for each trip. They said it was not possible to maintain trip schedules with only two vessels. Operators lost enthusiasm due to poor response from passengers.
Additional waterbuses have given the BIWTC new hope.
The new buses, 19 metres long and 4.5 metres wide, will have a capacity of 75 passengers.
Unlike the previous version, the buses will feature full service lavatories, lounge and a baggage handling service to help travellers enjoy the journey. Constructed by Dhaka Dockyard Limited, the vessels will travel at 12 nautical miles per hour.
They are scheduled to carry passengers from 7am to 6pm between Sadarghat and Gabtoli. There are two stops on the way – Sowarighat and Kholamura.
“When we introduced the vessels on trial basis, we had no proper planning. But this time, we are prepared. We have carefully scrutinised the plan and are now assured of its success,” said BIWTC chairman Mojibur Rahman.
At the initial stage, the vessels attracted large numbers of passengers, but it wasn’t long before the service saw a decline.
Turag frequently encountered engine problems. Six weeks after going into operation, authorities were forced to send it back to BIWTC dockyard.
In the middle of 2011, Buriganga was also shut down as authorities said it was making huge losses.
Many said the quality of the service had been compromised on purpose. Some dishonest BIWTC officials local trawler owners joined forces ensure that the service failed, they claimed.
“At the beginning, one-hour journey by a waterbus could be compared with a three-hour journey in Dhaka streets. People liked it but the service began to sharply deteriorate,” said a passenger at Sadarghat Terminal.
Passengers were being told that buses would leave the station at two-hour intervals. The bus would leave on schedule, but passengers had to wait for several hours for the bus to come back and start for return trip, he said.
Jony, a toll officer at Sadarghat terminal, who identified himself by one name, blamed the lack of interest by the authorities for the failure of the service.
“I think the service was initiated to help corrupt officials make money. If it was not like that, then what stopped them improving the service at a time when the vessels were carrying many more people than their capacity?” he said.