FOG forced the Pansodan-Dala ferry operators to reschedule the service for the morning of 1 March 2021. The service resumed when the fog started to clear.
“It is usual that fog halts service every year. The operators did not run until the fog clears for the safety of passengers. Additionally, the poor visibility in fog can cause collision accidents with the motor vessels in the river. The Inland Water Transport (Delta Division) ensures smooth and sound transport,” said U Hla Win Naing, the IWT Delta Division’s assistant general manager.
The ferry operated its service at 5, 6, 6:30 and 7 am. The service was delayed during the rounds at 7:20, 7:40 and 8 am owing to fog. The operators waited for the right time and resumed the service at 8:20 am.
Starting from 9 February 2021, the Dala ferry daily ran 35 rounds between 5:30 am and 7 pm. It plied the routes for 22 rounds between 6 am and 7 pm on weekends. At present, there are about 6,000-7,000 commuters.
Before the pandemic, the ferry service run 46 times a day. Yangon Pansodan-Dala ferries were earlier packed with nearly 30,000 daily commuters.
The Pansodan-Dala ferry is the only transport option for the local people in southern Yangon — Dala, Twantay, Kawhmu, Kungyangon townships to link with commercial hub Yangon. Three ferry boats named Cherry 1, 2 and 3, contributed by Japan earlier, ran 46 times a day for approximately 30,000 commuters. It is one of the crowded places in the city, generating revenues. —Naing Lin Kyaw (IPRD)/GNLM
