Boatmen ferrying hundreds of people daily across the Brahmaputra fear that the opening of the Bogibeel bridge will sound the death knell for their livelihood.
Lakeswar Rajbonsi, 28, who runs a ferry service at Bogibeel Ghat, says there are about 120-odd boatmen who might be rendered jobless. Currenly, 28 boats, including six government ferries, ply between the Bogibeel ghat in Dibrugarh on the south bank of the Brahmaputra and the Kareng Bali ghat in Dhemaji on the north bank, carrying passengers, vehicles and goods.
Ferry owners said they should be provided a rehabilitation package. “We expect some kind of a rehabilitation package for those whose jobs will be affected. However, such a package remains a long shot as this has not happened in other areas,” an owner said.
The bridge also has many others worried. Among them are the operators of a fleet of close to 100 jeeps and mini-buses that carry passengers from the towns to these ferry wharfs, and also owners of petty shops running in nearby areas.
