Of the nine port terminals of the Yangon Water Bus service, the Myanma Port Authority is collecting rent from just two, said U Bo Soe, the Assistant General Manager of the port authority.
“We are collecting rent of K700,000 per month from the No4 and Lanthit terminals. The Myanma Port Authority is not charging any rent from the remaining terminals to help develop the water bus service,” said U Bo Soe, who is also a member of the Yangon Region Transport Authority.
The nine port terminals of the water bus service are Botahtaung No4, Nanthida, Lanthit, Kyimyindine, Hline, Insein, Sarpachaung, Thamada, and the Antgyi shipyard in Dala Township, according to the Myanma Port Authority.
“At present, the Yangon Water Bus is running 11 ferries for 100,000 passengers. The number of passengers has decreased in the monsoon season,” said U Bo Win.
Meanwhile, to extend the water bus route to the Pazuntaung creek, the Tint Tint Myanmar Company and the Department of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems have jointly conducted a feasibility study at a suitable location for establishing a jetty, and their report has been forwarded to the Yangon Region government, he said.
“We have made plans to extend the water bus route to the South Okkalapa Pagoda. They have been submitted to the regional government,” he added.
The Yangon Water Bus was launched on 7 October, 2017, and it has been providing ferry services on internal routes in Yangon City as well as on Kyauktan and Twantay routes for the past one-and-a-half-years.
By Nyein Nyein (Translated by EMM)
