Navigability crisis hampers Shimulia-Kawrakandi ferry service

More than 800 vehicles on Saturday were stuck in Shimulia ferry ghat, creating long tailback. Ferries on the route are running amid high risk with few vehicles and taking unusual time. As there are shoals under water in the Padma river near Louhajong channel, a ferry have to wait to let another go through the channel. As a result, a ferry takes more than one and a half to two hours to reach its destination. Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Manager at Shimulia ghat Abdul Alim said: “Due to navigability crisis, the ferries cannot load sufficient vehicles. Besides, the trouble has forced us to limit ferries at eight.” Mawa Naval police outpost In-charge Mosharraf Hossain echoed the manager's saying: “The number of vehicles on the route is on decrease because of the navigability crisis.”