Water buses to run in Dhaka city

Two water buses will start running on Aminbazar-Sadarghat route in Dhaka city soon.

The service is expected to ease traffic congestion in Dhaka and more water buses would be introduced if the initiative becomes a success, the shipping minister Shajahan Khan said.

Two buses will cover around 16.5 km from Swari Ghat terminal of Sadarghat to Aminbazar with stoppages at Kholamora, Nababerbagh, Bosila, Rayerbazar and Gabtoli.

Local firm Three-angle Marine Consultant will formally hand over two water buses, 'Turag' and 'Buriganga', already on test run, to the BIWTC on Thursday.

An agreement was signed between BIWTC and the lowest bidder Marine Consultant on Apr 18 for the delivery of the two vessels.

"The buses won't be able to travel around Dhaka for the 13 low-height bridges on the rivers around the capital," said Shajahan, adding that, "relevant ministries and departments have been told to take measure to remove or rebuild the bridges."

BIWTC chairman Golam Mustafa Kamal said the launch day and fare have not been fixed though it is likely to be the same as the fare on the buses on the Aminbazar-Sadarghat route.