Closing the Gia ferry across Lam River in Cat Van Commune, Thanh Chuong District

Arriving at Gia ferry terminal on Lam river in Cat Van commune, Thanh Chuong district, we noticed that both sides of this river terminal had stopped operating.

Mr. Dang Binh, the boat owner, said: Gia ferry crossing Lam River in Cat Van Commune has long had two ferries serving people 25-30 times a day across Lam River. After the decision to close the ferry crossing, we strictly complied and stopped operations, and have now switched to fishing on Lam River.

Previously, on July 28, 2023, the Department of Transport issued a Decision on closing the Gia Ferry Terminal at Km 110+150 of Lam River on one bank in Cat Van Commune, Thanh Chuong District.

Mr. Nguyen The Cuong - Head of the Economic - Infrastructure Department of Thanh Chuong district said: Immediately after the authorities decided to close the Gia ferry across Lam river in Cat Van commune. Thanh Chuong district People's Committee directed Cat Van commune People's Committee to stop all activities at the ferry, and at the same time widely announced the closure of the Gia ferry so that people would know.

It is known that Gia ferry has long served the needs of crossing Lam River mainly for people in Cat Van commune, Thanh Chuong district and Da Son commune, Do Luong district. According to regulations, ferry terminals are licensed to operate inland waterway terminals every 5 years. Gia ferry terminal was licensed to operate inland waterway terminals by Nghe An Department of Transport from January 25, 2022 to January 26, 2027.

The reason for closing this ferry is because downstream of Lam River, about 500 meters away, there is Cung Ferry across Lam River serving two communes, Cat Van, Thanh Chuong District, and Trung Son, Do Luong District. In addition, in 2024, Cung Ferry Bridge across Lam River will be completed and put into use.

Thanh Chuong district has 4 ferry piers across Lam river. Recently, the authorities closed Gia ferry piers, so now there are only 3 ferry piers left: Nguoc ferry piers in Ngoc Son commune, Cung ferry piers in Cat Van commune, and Phuong ferry piers in Thanh Yen commune. According to the 2024 plan, after Cung ferry bridge is put into operation, the authorities will close Cung ferry piers in Cat Van commune.