Buses, ferryboats allowed to operate in line with Covid-19 regulations: Arakan State transport minister

By DMG 17 Aug 2021

DMG Newsroom
17 August 2021, Sittwe

Passenger buses and ferryboats plying routes between townships in Arakan State are allowed to operate in accordance with the Covid-19 rules and regulations, Arakan State Minister for Road Transport Police Col. Thet Lwin told DMG.

Passenger buses are running regularly and bus fares have risen due to a reduction in the number of passengers during the Covid-19 period, said Police Col. Thet Lwin.

“At present, passenger buses are running normally. Some say passenger bus fares have tripled. Big buses were previously allowed to carry 30 people, but now only 10 are allowed under Covid-19 regulations. As a result, transportation charges have risen slightly more than usual,” he said.

Passenger buses are currently running routes linking Sittwe, Ponnnagyun, Kyauktaw, Mrauk-U and Minbya townships in Arakan State.

A bus driver who plies routes between Mrauk-U and Sittwe told DMG some operators had decided that the limiting of passengers due to the pandemic had made it not economically viable to run normally.

“As a result, we charge a little more than usual,” he said.

The Kasapandi Express boat line operating between Sittwe, Myebon and Kyaukphyu, which was required to temporarily suspend operations to curb the spread of Covid-19, has been allowed to run again since August 11, according to the Arakan State Administration Council.

Other ferryboat services, such as Shwe Pyi Tan, Malikha and Pauktaw Dagun, were temporarily suspended on July 20 for the same reason. At present, these ferryboat services will be allowed to resume operations, Police Col. Thet Lwin told DMG.

“For our part, there are no restrictions on the operations of ferryboats. The ferryboat services have suspended operations due to health reasons. We will allow the ferryboat services to resume operations if they ask us,” he added.

The Shwe Pyi Tan express boat line operates one of the most extensive networks, with routes between Sittwe and Myebon, Minbya, Kyaukphyu, Kyauknimaw, Ramree, Taungup, Manaung, Pauktaw, Mrauk-U, Rathedaung and Buthidaung.

The Malikha express boat service also runs routes to Rathedaung and Buthidaung from the Arakan State capital Sittwe.