Ferry service on the Banshbaria–Sandwip route has been disrupted for the past six months after one of the two pontoons at Banshbaria ghat sank in the Sandwip Channel.

The route connects Sandwip Island, an upazila of Chattogram, with the mainland, and residents are heavily dependent on waterway transport.

At present, ferries can operate only one round during high tide instead of two, relying on a single pontoon.

Ferry service on the route was launched in March this year, allowing all types of vehicles and passengers to travel directly between the mainland and the island.

Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority had installed two pontoons, a low-water and a mid-water, at Banshbaria ghat. Tidal surges in May caused the low-water pontoon and its adjoining road to subside and sink.

During a recent visit, this correspondent saw goods-laden trucks waiting for high tide for the ferry to resume operations.

"Ferry cannot dock during low tide, so we have to wait for high tide, sometimes for as long as five to six hours," said Mohammed Sobahan, a truck driver.

"The ferry service has transformed our connectivity, allowing direct vehicular access to the mainland. However, due to the sunken pontoon, we are unable to reap the benefits fully," said Shahidul Islam, a resident and teacher from Sandwip.

Md Yusuf, pontoon-in-charge at Banshbaria ferry ghat, said they can now operate only one trip during high tide.

Currently, a ferry named Kapotakkho makes one round trip on the route. According to BIWTA, each trip carries around 20 to 25 vehicles of various sizes and 60 to 70 passengers.

Contacted, Selim Reza, assistant engineer of BIWTA, said physical work has begun to recover the pontoon. "Construction has also started for an additional pontoon at Banshbaria ghat. We hope to complete these works during the dry season," he said.

Adverse weather and excessive silt accumulation on the route are the biggest challenges to maintaining regular ferry operations, he added.