Guwahati: The Inland Water Transport Regulatory Authority, Assam has put forward a proposal to revise the passenger tariffs of all the ferry services that are operating in waterways of Assam under the Inland Water Transport division of Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Silchar as per the provision of Section 16 (1) of AIWT Regulatory Authority Act, 2018.
The AIWT has proposed hiking the existing rate of Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 5 per passenger while a bicycle with a rider will be charged Rs. 9 from the existing rate of Rs. 4.50.
On the other hand, the AIWT has proposed the new rate of Goods (Per Qtl) to Rs. 10 from the existing Rs. 5 while the motorcycle or scooter with a rider will amount to Rs. 14 from the existing Rs. 7.
It has come to light that the water transport department has doubled the tariffs from the existing rate.
As far as the night service is concerned, the proposed rate is more than double. Under the revised tariffs, a passenger will be charged pay Rs. 10 instead of Rs. 2.50 after 8 PM while a rider with a bicycle will have to pay Rs. 18 instead of Rs. 4.50.
Goods (per Qtl) will amount to Rs. 20 from the existing Rs. 5 during night service after 8 PM while a motorcycle will cost Rs. 28 from the existing Rs. 7.
However, the commuters will be able to raise objections if any within 15 days at aiwtra2019@gmail.com.
Earlier, the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department had decided to operate additional ferry services between Guwahati and Umananda to meet the rush of pilgrims to the island on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Hitherto, two vessels – Ro-Pax and MV Meghna – were operating between Guwahati and Umananda on a daily basis. However, two more ferries will operate on the route – MV Sunai and MV Sudarshan. The ferry Jolporee will operate between Sukreswar Ghat and Umananda.
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