As part of the Hatirjheel Development Plan, the 'water taxis' will
connect areas from the FDC in Karwan Bazar to Badda Link Road and
Rampura Bridge .
Fares will range between Tk 25 to 30.
In the next phase, the service will be extended to Gulshan and Baridhara.
The water taxi service is slated to launch in late October, says Hatirjheel Coordinated Development Project's official Major Quazi Shakil Hossain.
He told bdnews24.com that a Chittagong factory has finished manufacturing the six water taxis and is now waiting for the engines to arrive from China.
"They will be launched in end of October. The vessel are ready, we are just waiting for the engines to arrive to complete the assembly. "
The 'water taxis' will cost Tk 8.5 million each and each of them can carry 45 passengers. It will also have a small cafeteria with provision for light refreshment.
Three 'water taxis' will ply on the Karwan Bazar FDC Intersection - Badda Link Road route and as many on the FDC Intersection - Rampura Bridge route, Hossain said.
Tk 25 will be charged for a passenger on the FDC-Rampura route and Tk 30 on the FDC-Badda Link Road route, he added. The fares may be revised after three months, Hossain said.
"This fare is based after calculating approximate cost of operations, but we would definitely revise them downward if we can. But evaluation will be possible only after running the service for three months," he said.
A private operator, M/S Wahid Miah, will run the service for 20 years.
"The operator will have to maintain the fares prescribed by us, that is part of the contract. They cannot raise it," said Hossain. "If they do that, the contract will become invalid."
He said the government will not provide any subsidies.
"On the other hand, it will take away funds for developing Hatirjheel. The operations will be profitable but we are mindful of public interest," Hossain said.
A ride from FDC, where the terminal would be station, to both Badda Link
Road and Rampura Bridge would take 30 minutes, Hossain said.He said plying faster vessels was not possible because resultant waves could erode the banks.
Hossain said the 'water taxis' would come as a huge relief to thousands of commuters.
"Residents of Badda, Gulshan, Rampura and Khilgaon would find it easy to reach Kawran Bazar, Moghbazar, Eskaton, Bangla Motor and Tezgaon," said Hatirjheel Project Director Jamal Akhtar.
"They can avoid traffic snarls and cut down on their travel time. And travelling by water is so much more pleasing. "
Akhtar said if the public response was positive, the service would be extended through Gulshan Lake to Baridhara and paddle boats and luxury yachts would be introduced for pleasure seekers at Hatirjheel.
Fares will range between Tk 25 to 30.
In the next phase, the service will be extended to Gulshan and Baridhara.
The water taxi service is slated to launch in late October, says Hatirjheel Coordinated Development Project's official Major Quazi Shakil Hossain.
He told bdnews24.com that a Chittagong factory has finished manufacturing the six water taxis and is now waiting for the engines to arrive from China.
"They will be launched in end of October. The vessel are ready, we are just waiting for the engines to arrive to complete the assembly. "
The 'water taxis' will cost Tk 8.5 million each and each of them can carry 45 passengers. It will also have a small cafeteria with provision for light refreshment.
Three 'water taxis' will ply on the Karwan Bazar FDC Intersection - Badda Link Road route and as many on the FDC Intersection - Rampura Bridge route, Hossain said.
"This fare is based after calculating approximate cost of operations, but we would definitely revise them downward if we can. But evaluation will be possible only after running the service for three months," he said.
A private operator, M/S Wahid Miah, will run the service for 20 years.
"The operator will have to maintain the fares prescribed by us, that is part of the contract. They cannot raise it," said Hossain. "If they do that, the contract will become invalid."
He said the government will not provide any subsidies.
"On the other hand, it will take away funds for developing Hatirjheel. The operations will be profitable but we are mindful of public interest," Hossain said.
Hossain said the 'water taxis' would come as a huge relief to thousands of commuters.
"Residents of Badda, Gulshan, Rampura and Khilgaon would find it easy to reach Kawran Bazar, Moghbazar, Eskaton, Bangla Motor and Tezgaon," said Hatirjheel Project Director Jamal Akhtar.
"They can avoid traffic snarls and cut down on their travel time. And travelling by water is so much more pleasing. "
Akhtar said if the public response was positive, the service would be extended through Gulshan Lake to Baridhara and paddle boats and luxury yachts would be introduced for pleasure seekers at Hatirjheel.
