Govt mulls ending toll collection at Buriganga Bridge-1

Syful Islam | Published: January 19, 2016 00:00:00 | Updated: February 01, 2018 00:00:00

The government is considering abolition of toll collection at Buriganga Bridge-1 in the wake of demands from various quarters, officials said.
The Ministry of Finance (MoF) is examining the matter following requests of the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges (MoRTB), members of parliament, and transport owners to do it, they added.
The First Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge over the Buriganga River, located in the city's Postogola area, is six kilometres away from the zero point. It was constructed in 1989 at a cost of Tk 1.08 billion. Toll is being collected from vehicles using the bridge since mid-March of the same year.
However, in the recent years transport workers were seen engaged in a number of clashes with toll collectors for realising 'excessive' tolls for using the bridge. The workers also put blockade on the bridge, snapping road communications between Dhaka and a number of southern districts via Keraniganj.
The transport workers and owners also demanded abolition of toll collection at the 847 metre-long bridge several times.
According to officials, MoRTB in a letter to MoF in August made the request for abolishing toll collection. Subsequently, MoF has been examining the issue. Â
MoRTB in another letter recently requested MoF to take decision in this regard quickly, considering public interest.
An official at MoF told the FE that the ministry has been actively considering abolition of toll collection at Buriganga Bridge-1 in line with the submitted proposal.
Sources said local parliament members - Abu Hosen Babla and Advocate Sanjida Khanam - also requested for cancellation of toll collection at the bridge to reduce traffic congestion in the area and help facilitate movement of the city dwellers.
According to the MoRTB proposal, there are several other bridges adjacent to the capital, from which toll is not collected.
It said the 304 metre-long Second Buriganga Bridge is located within two kilometres from the zero point, the 660 metre-long Third Buriganga Bridge within 10 kilometres, the 436 metre-long Kanchpur Bridge within 10 kilometres, and the Shitalakkhya Bridge is located at the same distance from the zero point, from which the government does not collect any toll.
MoRTB said the Buriganga Bridge-1 is located closer from the zero point, compared to the distances of the said bridges.
The ministry, referring to a meeting, held in presence of several ministers concerned, local MPs, and transport owners, said all of the participants agreed that toll collection from the bridge should be abolished, considering greater interest.
syful-islam@outlook.com