The ferry stopped operating, people took a detour

For decades, in Buu Long Ward (Bien Hoa City), there have been 3 ferry terminals (Tram, Buu Long, Xom La) serving the needs of local people traveling back and forth on both banks of the Dong Nai River, shortening the travel distance from Dong Nai Province to Binh Duong Province and vice versa. Therefore, the suspension of these ferry terminals to hand over the construction site for the Dong Nai River Road project has forced people to travel further.

Xom La Ferry (Buu Long Ward) has been a means of transport for Buu Long Ward residents to travel to Tan Hanh Ward (Bien Hoa City) for many years and has stopped operating since May 31. Photo: M.Thanh

* Go further because there is no boat

For over 2 months, to hand over the construction site for the Dong Nai River Road project (from Hoa An bridge to the border of Vinh Cuu district), Tram ferry and Buu Long ferry (both in Buu Long ward) have stopped operating. Therefore, Xom La ferry has become the only ferry that helps people from Buu Long ward (Bien Hoa city) to Tan Hanh ward (Tan Hanh ferry, Bien Hoa city) to continue to Binh Duong province. But on May 31, Xom La ferry also stopped operating to hand over the site to the construction unit.

Thus, as of early June 2023, all ferry piers along the Dong Nai River, passing through Buu Long Ward, have ceased operations after many years of existence. This has caused confusion for many residents of Buu Long Ward as they have to go around Hoa An Bridge (nearly 7km further, from the Xom La ferry wharf to the Tan Hanh ferry wharf) to continue their daily journey.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Hieu (resident of Buu Long Ward) expressed: "For decades, local people have been used to traveling at Buu Long ferry, Tram ferry, and Xom La ferry to cross the two banks of the Dong Nai River. Now all three of these ferry stops operating, we have to take a detour through Hoa An Bridge, which is very far. For those who go to work every day on the ferry, this is a big obstacle."

Ms. Tran Phan Doan Trang, owner of Xom La ferry terminal, said that the current operating license of the terminal is valid until mid-December 2023, but she was persuaded by the local government and relevant agencies to stop the operation of the terminal to hand over the site. She complied both to complete the riverside road soon and to ensure the safety of the people when the road near the ferry terminal is under intensive construction, if the ferry continues to run, there will be a high risk of collision.

* Will consider reopening ferry terminals when the road is completed

According to the People's Committee of Bien Hoa City, the ferry terminals: Tram, Buu Long, Xom La are all included in the Passenger Terminal Development Plan for the 2019-2025 and 2026-2035 periods. In fact, the demand for people to travel across the river between Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces at the above ferry terminals is very large and necessary.

Therefore, to ensure meeting the actual needs of the people, Bien Hoa City People's Committee has approved the Dong Nai River Road project and the Dong Nai River Park and Embankment project (from Hoa An Bridge to the border of Vinh Cuu District). According to the approved design documents and construction drawings, at the location of Tram ferry terminal, Buu Long ferry terminal, and Xom La ferry terminal, there are designs and investments in access roads suitable for passenger and tourist terminal operations.

During the construction of the above projects, the suspension of ferry terminals is to ensure smooth construction, ensure safety for construction and waterway traffic safety. In addition, after the project is completed, based on the traffic needs of the people and the needs of organizations and individuals (if any) to exploit the above ferry terminals, the People's Committee of Bien Hoa City will request the Department of Transport to preside over and coordinate with departments, branches and sectors to consider and guide organizations and individuals to carry out procedures to exploit the ferry terminals in accordance with the provisions of law.

Mr. Tran Huy Hoang (residing in Buu Long Ward) suggested that the functional agencies and local authorities should request the construction unit of the Dong Nai River Road project to complete it on schedule. Thereby, the above ferry terminals can be reopened soon, meeting the travel needs of people on both sides of the river.

Mr. DAO DUY LINH, representative of the construction unit of the Dong Nai River Road project, said that the suspension of ferry terminals within the project scope will help the construction unit speed up progress and focus more on the project. Transporting machinery and materials by waterway is safer, no longer hindered by ferry terminals.

Minh Thanh

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