The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Despite an environment friendly and low fuel consumption mode of transportation, the share of Inland Water Transport (IWT) in terms of passengers has decreased from 16 percent in 1975 to eight percent in 2005.

The share of IWT in the cargo transport market has also decreased from 37 percent in 1975 to 16 percent in 2005 though the IWT tariff for cargo is below Taka one per ton-km while the same is around Taka 4.5 on roads and Taka 2.5 on railway routes.

This was revealed in a recent study styled 'Revival Of Inland Water Transport: Option and Strategies'. A team of the World Bank led by Jean-Noel Guillossou conducted the study while the Ministry of Shipping, Department of Shipping (DOS) and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) reviewed it.

The study attributed the reduction of passengers in IWT to poor operation conditions and inadequate regulations and involvement of authorities in service delivery.

In contrast, the study said, during the 30 years, the road share has dramatically increased from 54 percent in 1975 to 88 percent in 2005 reflecting a heavy investment in the sector.

The IWT is also considered unsafe because of disastrous accidents involving a large number of passengers although statistics show that IWT is less dangerous than road.

During the past 15 years, fatalities on the road averaged 2,400 per year whereas on the inland waterways, 148 people died on average, said the study.

Describing the IWT as an environment-friendly mode of transport, the study said use of IWT instead of road transport is estimated to save about 58.5 million litres of diesel and reduce emission of 155,000 tons of carbon-dioxide per year because of lower diesel consumption.

The use of gearboxes in country boats, the study said, would save an estimated additional 100 million liters of diesel and reduce emission of 260,000 tons of carbon-dioxide.

Referring to the use the country's 10 major ports by 50 million passengers in a year, it said the present IWT can also provide large capacity for passenger transport, but regulatory issues need to be addressed if the sector wants to capture its potential share of the market. Inland Water Transport (IWT) has the potential to become a major actor in the transport of containers between Dhaka and Chittagong as the tariff to transport a TEU container between these two major cities is around Taka 600 per ton by IWT, compared to Taka 1,200 on railway and Taka 6,000 on land routes, the study said.

Besides, it said, the development of container transport by IWT between India and Bangladesh also shows a strong potential as the transport cost by IWT is estimated at 700 US dollar per TEU for a seven to nine day trip compared to US 2500 dollar for a 15 to 30 day trip by sea.

The study observed that the Government of Bangladesh should peruse the Government of India to establish a sustainable framework for development of regional IWT network.

Presently, the short-term priority for the government should be to determine the core IWT network that can be used by modern vessels and which will require a significant amount of resources for maintenance, it said.

Besides, the study recommended for adopting a new 'sector strategy' providing a mid-term vision for the sector encompassing investment needs, financing of recurrent costs and the role of the private sector.

It also suggested re-fixing of passenger tariff and setting up a new framework for sustainable sector financing with enhanced participation of IWT users.

A new framework for public-private partnership in port management and cargo handling with particular emphasis on safety and environment is also needed, it said.

It is estimated that about 7,45,000 country boats ply the rivers in Bangladesh of which 4,64,000 used for ferrying passengers and 2,61,000 cargoes. The country boat sector is a major source of employment in rural areas with an estimated 3.8 million workers.