Ferry Services Resumed, Meet Held

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, Sept 21: Ferry services between Guwahati and North Guwahati was resumed on Friday. As such, regular ferry services will start from Rajadwar, Madhyam Khanda and Mazgaon ghats.

Notably, ferry services had been cancelled from September 15 by a government order following the last tragic incident. Presently, the Inland Water Transport Department (IWTD) will run the ghat services itself and has taken away the rights from the lessees.

Earlier this month, after the boat tragedy on the Brahmaputra on 5th September, Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary had suspended four officials of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department.

On the other hand, in a review meeting held on Friday at the IWTD office premises, IWTD Director Bharat Bhushan Dev Choudhury stressed on safety and security of the passengers. The Director asked the private ferry service providers to adopt double engine ferries and arrange life jackets for each of the passengers. To streamline the safety of the passengers, Choudhury made it clear to the private players that the department will think of reconsidering their services only after a due examination of the prescribed measures.