A Comprehensive Evaluation of the Hatirjheel Water Taxi Service of Dhaka City – the Capital of Bangladesh

This paper presents the findings of a research study conducted to evaluate the status and prospect of the existing water taxi service in Hatirjheel, which is the largest water body inside Dhaka City - the capital of Bangladesh. The evaluation was done using key informants’ interviews (KII), questionnaire-based surveys of the stakeholders and on-site observations. While the KII was used to learn about the system and corresponding area, the questionnaires for operates, workers and users were used to learn about the full system. The potential, existing problems and suggestions could be learned and analyzed. Although this water taxi system was found to be vital for saving travel time, reducing traffic jam and reducing traffic accidents, its own problems could reduce the anticipated benefits as well. Travel time and cost estimations were performed in this study as well, which showed how vital the system can be, in terms of savings regarding both travel time and cost. The initial purpose of the study is to look into the system. However, with enormous suggestions from both workers and passengers, the findings and analyses led the study to inscribe remedies as well