A roll-on-roll off-cum-passenger ferry service, also called ‘Ro-Pax’ between Dhubri and Fakirganj resumed on Saturday from Jogmaya river ghat in the presence of Dhubri deputy commissioner Anbamuthan MP and IWTD officials.
The re-launch ceremony was a low-key one due to the state government’s Covid restrictions on mass gatherings, said officials.
The vessel of Inland Water Transport Authority of India is well equipped with all modern facilities having capacities of carrying over 200 passengers along with vehicles and is also capable of plying even during monsoon, officials said.
“The vessel can carry 200 cars and 1,000 passengers and is capable of plying even during monsoon,” said an official.
The fare between Dhubri and Fakirganj is fixed at Rs 26 per passenger.
“The road distance between Dhubri and Fakirganj via Goalpara Hatsingimari is about 300 km and it takes 6-7 hours to complete the difficult journey,” an official said.
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The Dhubri deputy commissioner said the Ro-Pax service will run on a daily basis.
On each day, it will leave from Dhubri at 3 pm and reach Fakirganj at about 4-4.30 pm and on the return journey, the same vessel will leave Fakirganj at 8 in the morning the next day.
The Dhubri deputy commissioner said the Ro-Pax service would be a milestone for the state.
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He said a similar facility has been planned between Dhubri and other locations like Hatsingimari in the next coming days after getting the final nod from the government.
Meanwhile, in Dhubri district, single-engine boats continue to ply by flouting safety norms despite the state government’s total ban on the movement of such boats across the state.