New Ferry Planned for Banjul-Barra Crossing, Seedy Njie Says

Written by: Alieu Jallow

The government is finalising plans to introduce another new ferry on the Banjul-Barra route, according to Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and NPP Deputy Spokesperson Seedy SK Njie.

The Banjul-Barra ferry crossing, a vital transport link between the capital and the North Bank Region, has for years been a source of frustration for commuters due to ferry breakdowns, long queues and frequent delays. The recent introduction of the Barra ferry has improved crossing times, but commuters continue to call for further improvements to the service.

Speaking to members of the Children’s National Assembly, Njie said another ferry is expected to be introduced and would operate at a speed similar to the Barra ferry.

His comments came in response to concerns raised by a Children’s Assembly representative from Essau about delays on the route and the availability of ferries during emergencies.

“I can assure you that with the government of President Adama Barrow, very soon we will see a new ferry that will be as fast as the Barra ferry,” Njie said.

Njie pointed to the Barra ferry as an example of recent improvements to the crossing, saying it has significantly reduced the time required to travel between the two terminals.

“I can assure him, I’m not sure when he last visited the North Bank, but we have a ferry called Barra, and that ferry runs about 15 to 18 minutes from Banjul to Barra,” he said.

The addition of another fast ferry could further ease pressure on the busy route and provide an alternative when one vessel is undergoing maintenance or develops a technical problem.

However, Njie did not provide a specific date for the arrival or commissioning of the proposed ferry, saying only that it would come “very soon.”