Mizzima – Traveling by government subsidized riverboats in Burma is about five to ten times cheaper than bus travel, but the number of river runs and the size of the riverboats will soon be decreased to cut costs, a junior officer told Mizzima.
‘Currently we are running three times a week on the Rangoon-Pathein run, and three times a week in big riverboats to Rangoon-Kyonmang’, an official who requested anonymity because he was not authorized to speak told Mizzima.
He said the Rangoon-Kyonmang run will use smaller riverboats in the future to save expenses. The waterway transport service was ordered to undertake cost cutting measures by the Ministry of Transportation, he said.
‘This matter has been discussed at the ministerial meeting since early last month’, he said. ‘They first considered reducing operating costs by increasing passenger fares and freight fares. Finally, they decided to cut operating costs by reducing fuel expenses with fewer runs and smaller boats’.
Traveling by government subsidized riverboats takes longer but offers many advantages, such as beautiful off-the-road scenery and relaxed travel. An ordinary bus fare to Pathein costs about 4,500 kyat (US$ 6.73) and an express bus costs more than 7,000 kyat ($10). The boat fare is below 900 kyat ($1.29), sources said.
The precursor of the Inland Water Transport Corporation was the Irrawaddy Flotilla Co. Ltd. established in 1865 during the colonial period. It was transformed into the Inland Water Transport Corporation in 1948, and then reconstituted as the Water Transport Corporation in 1974. The Inland Water Transport Corporation was formed in 1989.
