Ferryboats operating on rotating basis between Kyauktaw and Paletwa

By DMG 01 Oct 2021

DMG Newsroom
1 October 2021, Kyauktaw 

Ferryboats plying between Kyauktaw town in Arakan State and Paletwa town in Chin State are operating on a rotating basis, according to boat operators. 

U Shwe Thein Naing, a ferryboat owner, told DMG that there were 28 motorboats plying the route and that they had to wait for months for their turn. 

“We are allowed to operate on a rotating basis so we have to wait for months for our turn. I haven’t been able to operate my ferryboat for about two months. We have to submit a letter to the concerned officials via the Myanmar military to ply the route. At one time, two motor boats were allowed to run the route between Kyauktaw and Paletwa,” he said. 

The Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway was closed for almost two years due to fighting between the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA). 

The ferryboats were allowed to operate on a rotating basis after residents of Paletwa Township, including town elders, applied for permission to operate the waterway in May of this year. 

“Boats are allowed to go, but not allowed to carry goods such as cement, steel and bricks. Boats are allowed to carry only food items. And when the boats leave, they are inspected by security personnel,” he added. 

U Aung Win Soe, an administrator of Ywama ward in Paletwa Township, confirmed to DMG that motorboats are operating on a rotating basis. 

A local man from Paletwa, who did not want to be named, said commodity prices have not dropped in Paletwa Township because the Kyauktaw-Paletwa waterway has not been allowed to operate regularly. 

“The waterway in Paletwa is not normal. With only a handful of boats allowed to travel, commodity prices have risen. The return trip to Paletwa and Kyauktaw takes about three days,” he told DMG. 

A litre of petrol costs K2,500 and a bag of rice costs more than K60,000 in Paletwa Township, according to locals. 

Locals in Paletwa Township mainly rely on food and consumer goods from Kyauktaw, Arakan State.