Pansodan-Dala ferry reduces routes due to commuters’ decline
17 SEP 2020 - Source: The Global New Light of Myanmar
Pansodan-Dala ferry line has reduced its operation routes because of the declining number of commuters and prevention of coronavirus transmission, according to the Delta Division of Inland Water Transport (IWT). Yangon Pansodan-Dala ferry operations have reduced their routes to 30 starting from 12 September because there are fewer passengers onboard the ferry boats and because they want to control and prevent the pandemic spreading, according to IWT.
"Previously, three "Cherry" ferry vessels were providing their transport services with 46 routes between Pansodan and Dala jetties. With the rising number of coronavirus positive patients, the express buses between Dala and Ayeyawady Region were suspended. On the other hand, the number of passengers has also dropped. So, the operation of the water ferry was also reduced to 16 routes fewer than normal routes," said an official from IWT.
On 11 September, the staff from IWT under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications launched the mask campaigns for the Wahdan-Dala ferry passengers at the jetties and distributed the masks to the passengers.
The Pansodan-Dala jetty is the only gateway for the local people in southern Yangon— Dala, Twantay, Kawhmu, Kungyangon townships and some townships in Ayeyawady Region to link themselves with the commercial hub of Yangon City. Three motor vessels named Cherry 1, 2 and 3, donated by Japan have been running 46 times per day for 30,000 commuters approximately. The port is one of the crowded places in the town. The ferry vessels are running from 5:30 am to 9 pm daily. —Zin Yaw Aye (Translated by Hay Mar)
