The Roads and Highways Division has been unable to resume toll collection at 15 bridges under its jurisdiction. This suspension has been in contrivance since the autumn of the Awami League authorities, following a student-led circulation.
In accordance to the Motorway Transport and Highways Division, the suspension began after offended mobs vandalised several toll plazas on 5 August. Even supposing toll collection has resumed at some locations, resistance from locals and the scarcity of contractors take into account prevented operations from restarting at many internet sites.
A senior first price of the Motorway Transport and Highways Division said folk with political hyperlinks for the time being are getting concerned about the toll collection process. In some areas, local BNP supporters, three-wheeler drivers and others take into account antagonistic the resumption of tolls under old contractors.
In completely different areas, there are outright requires to discontinuance toll collection altogether. As a consequence, dilapidated contractors are unwilling to resume operations and several take into account filed court docket cases over their inability to win tolls.
Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Motorway Transport and Bridges, suggested TBS on 19 November that toll collection in areas the attach it has been halted is looking at for an improvement in the law and roar disaster.
He added that Khuda Baksh Chowdhury, the manager adviser’s particular assistant, is actively addressing the disaster.
The adviser held out the peace of mind that measures would possibly well well be taken to put into effect toll collection in areas going through resistance.
Paperwork from the September coordination assembly of the Motorway Transport and Highways Division present that the manager engineer of the Roads and Highways Division has been suggested to appoint new contractors for bridges the attach toll collection is currently suspended.
Furthermore, a letter has been despatched to the Ministry of Home Affairs inquiring for safety arrangements at these toll plazas.
The Roads and Highways Division has confirmed that steps are underway to appoint new contractors and guarantee the resumption of toll collection.
Bridges the attach toll collection has stopped
Toll collection has been suspended on two bridges in Mymensingh. To contend with this disaster, Mymensingh’s Govt Engineer Khairul Basar Mohammad Saddam Hossain held a gathering with senior officers, including the deputy commissioner and the police superintendent.
Nonetheless, he effectively-known that true through a gathering on 6 November at the Motorway Transport and Highways Division, no assurance of cooperation used to be received from the local administration.
Officials at the assembly talked about that identical considerations exist with toll collection at various bridges in Chapainawabganj, Kushtia, Khulna and Barisal regions.
Toll collection on the Chandpur-Lakshmipur toll road bridge used to be halted following a conflict between toll collector representatives, auto-rickshaw drivers, and locals who demanded an discontinue to toll collection.
In Sunamganj, toll collection has stopped on the Lamakazi Bridge attributable to a transport workers’ strike calling for its suspension. Within the same draw, toll collection has been discontinued on the Chhoyhara Bridge of the district.
Uncertainty over income collection goal
For the fiscal 2024-25, the Motorway Transport and Highways Division has space a income goal of Tk2,000 crore from tolls. Nonetheless, simplest a diminutive amount has been gentle from July to October, falling brief of expectations.
Within the old fiscal three hundred and sixty five days, the division aimed to win Tk1,287 crore from tolls nevertheless managed to win Tk1,280 crore, nearly reaching its goal.
Currently, tolls are gentle through three methods – the departmental draw, the rent draw, and the operation and maintenance (O&M) draw. The O&M draw accounts for 83% of the complete toll income from roads and bridges.
The Roads and Highways Division collects tolls from 67 bridges in total. Of these, tolls are gentle from 38 bridges the usage of the rent draw, 14 bridges the usage of the O&M draw, and 15 bridges throughout the departmental draw.
Furthermore, the department collects tolls from 48 ferries. Tolls are gentle the usage of the rent draw on 34 ferries and the departmental draw on 14 ferries.
The department also collects tolls from four roads. Three of these roads use the O&M draw, whereas one uses the departmental draw.
Govt reluctant to put in force new toll protection
The Motorway Transport and Highways Division has launched the Toll Policy 2024 to standardise toll collection across all roads and bridges. Nonetheless, the authorities is hesitant to take the risk of imposing it.
A senior first price from the division, speaking anonymously to TBS, defined that a identical protection used to be launched in 2014 nevertheless has no longer been fully applied on many bridges. For bridges constructed earlier than 2000, making use of the 2014 protection would severely elevate toll charges, which introduced about dissatisfaction among transport workers.
Even on the Meghna-Gumti Bridge, the 2014 protection used to be no longer fully applied, leading to mountainous income losses. Nonetheless, tolls on bridges constructed after 2014 are being gentle per the protection, increasing a plight in toll charges between older and newer bridges across the country.
The brand new Toll Policy 2024 objectives to build uniform toll charges for all bridges. It proposes a revision of toll charges every three years, with adjustments per the client impress index, bearing in mind a most lengthen of 30%.
An first price warned that imposing the brand new protection would possibly well well discontinuance in toll will enhance of 135% to 320% on older bridges. Even with adjustments per the client impress index, tolls would possibly well well upward thrust by a minimal of 36%.
Increased tolls would lengthen transportation charges, impacting goods costs and breeze charges for neatly-liked folk.
Given concerns about public dissatisfaction, the authorities is reluctant to take steps that will perchance well trigger unrest. As a consequence, it appears no longer going that the brand new toll charges shall be applied true throughout the recent administration’s tenure.
Adviser Fouzul Kabir confirmed that there are no longer any immediate plans to put in force the brand new protection. The precedence is to delivery toll collection on all bridges and roads, after which choices on toll charges shall be made per the disaster.
