Travellers call for expansion of Sittwe-Kyaukphyu boat services

By Admin 18 Mar 2023

DMG Newsroom
18 March 2023, Sittwe

In the name of greater safety, travellers have called for the expansion of express boat services linking the Arakan State capital Sittwe with Kyaukphyu.

Currently, only the Shwe Pyi Tan express boat line is operating between Sittwe and Kyaukphyu, and only one boat runs on the route. The boat is always crowded, and travellers are concerned about their safety.

Kyaukphyu resident Ma Hnin Moe Swe said boat tickets are hard to buy as there is only one boat operating the route and it is always booked full.

“Recently, I had to wait four days to get a ticket to Sittwe. And the boat was extremely crowded. There is only the Shwe Pyi Tan boat, and we have no choice,” she said.

The boat operates three times a week, and is always packed with travellers heading to Ramree, Manaung and Taungup.

Travellers have called for expansion of the boat service for their safety. Being a coastal area, Arakan State usually receives high rainfall, and is vulnerable to storms in the rainy season.

“Kyaukphyu is the town that links southern and northern Arakan State,” said Sittwe resident Ko Zeya Kyaw. “It is not OK for travellers if that town is not easily accessible. Only the Shwe Pyi Tan boat line is operating on the route. Kissapanadi has closed. And there is no flight [between Sittwe and Kyaukphyu], so people have difficulties.”

Previously, in addition to Shwe Pyi Tan, the Kissapanadi boat line also operated at least two times a week between Sittwe and Kyauphyu. But the Kissapanadi line has suspended operations since July of last year.

At the time of reporting, DMG was unable to obtain comment from Arakan State Administration Council spokesman U Hla Thein.

While Kyaukphyu, Manaung, Ramree, Taungup and other townships in Arakan State are also accessible by road, travellers usually prefer waterways because road transport is more expensive, less comfortable and takes longer due to poor transportation networks.