An excessive pressure of vehicles on Daulatdia –Paturia ferry route created a four kilometres-long traffic jam at the Daulatdia ferry terminal on Sunday.
During a spot visit to the area the UNB reporter found at least 400 vehicles – carrying passengers and goods – waiting to cross in a line that started from zero point of the terminal and stretched to Bangladesh Hatcheries on Dhaka-Khulna highway.
Besides, 300 vehicles were seen stuck at Rajbari-Kushtia regional highway near Ahladipur area in Goaloudo waiting for their turn.
Some drivers said passenger carrying buses have to wait a minimum of five hours while some goods-laden vehicles have been waiting for three days.
Manager(trade) of Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) Doulatdia office, Shihab Uddin said the capsize of Ro-Ro ferry Shah Amanat, and closed Banglabazar-Simulia route along with ferry crisis has created an extra pressure of vehicles on Daulatdia-Paturia route.
Passenger buses and perishable goods carrying vehicles are being allowed to cross on a priority basis, he said.
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Jamal, a truck driver coming from Amtali upazila in Barguna said he reached Goalondo intersection in the early hours of Friday and 14 hours since then he is still one kilometre away from the terminal.
“I might have to wait four or five hours more in serial to cross the Daulatdia-Paturia route,” he said
Riaz Uddin Sheikh, another truck driver said he had been stuck under the open sky with his truck at Goalundo intersection near Ahladipur area for two days.
“There is no place to eat within two or three kilometres or no arrangements for a toilet,” he said.
“Currently 17 ferries are in service on this route to carry vehicles, ” said the BIWTC official.
Source: United News of Bangladesh