Navigability Crisis Cripples Daulatdia-Paturia Ferry Route; Key Piers Shut for Over 30 Days

Ferry operations on the vital Daulatdia-Paturia waterway have been severely disrupted due to acute loss of navigability. Heavy siltation on the riverbed has kept Ferry Ghats 6 and 7 at the Daulatdia end completely non-operational for over a month. Currently, vehicles are crossing using Ghats 3, 4, and 5, though Ro-Ro (large) ferries are unable to berth at Ghat 5. As a result, commuters and drivers travelling along this route are facing severe distress.

An on-the-spot inspection revealed that the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) is conducting dredging operations at the Daulatdia point to keep the water route functional. Excavation is currently underway using two dredgers. However, authorities indicated that strong river currents and continuous silt deposition may force an increase in the dredging target.

According to BIWTA’s Dredging Department sources, based on the hydrographic chart up to October 28, the initial dredging target in the Daulatdia ferry ghat area was set at 511,000 cubic meters. However, due to recent siltation near Ghats 4, 5, and 6, the target may increase to 800,000 cubic meters or more. So far, approximately 76,000 cubic meters of silt have been removed.

Executive Engineer of the BIWTA Dredging Department (Aricha Region), Hasan Ahmed, stated that the Daulatdia-Paturia route is experiencing a severe depth crisis. To mitigate this issue, dredging is actively being carried out near Ferry Ghat 7 at the Daulatdia end. He added that while the initial plan aimed to reactivate Ghat 7 by October 28, strong currents and daily silt accumulation are altering conditions, making a new hydrographic survey necessary to determine subsequent plans.

Manager of BIWTC’s Daulatdia Ghat Branch, Md. Salauddin, confirmed that Ghats 3, 4, and 5 remain functional at the Daulatdia end, while the crucial Ghat 7 has been shut down due to shallow water depth. BIWTA initiated dredging on October 6 to restore operations at Ghat 7. Stakeholders along the Daulatdia-Paturia route emphasised that the reduced number of operational ferry terminals is severely slowing down vessel movement. Swift completion of dredging and the reopening of closed terminals will ease traffic pressure and relieve suffering for passengers and drivers alike.