GUWAHATI: After the bhutbhuti mishap, the state government has decided to bar the country boats from plying between Guwahati and North Guwahati. The move will directly affect 3,000 passengers who use the service everyday.
A source in the Inland Water Transport department (IWT) said, “All the bhutbhutis are barred from plying in Brahmaputra between Guwahati and North Guwahati.”
There are 100 bhutbhutis operated by private owners and 6 vessels operated by IWT plying between Guwahati and North Guwahati. 3,000 passengers use these boats daily. After the accident, the bhutbhutis are now barred from plying as none of the boats and vessels can be considered safe to ply on Brahmaputra.
The transport department claimed that they have introduced 10 Assam State Transport Corporation buses, but the residents of North Guwahati are not content with the initiative.
A resident of North Guwahati who comes to Fancy Bazar everyday said, “We are facing a lot of problems. The buses do not ply on time and if the boats are not there we will waste a lot of time. The government should introduce new safe boats.”