Sagor Chowdhury, Chandpur

Government-sponsored toll contracts for two bridges in Chandpur were completed this month.

A reliable source of Chandpur Roads and Communications Department said that from the coming financial year 2024-25 to the next 3 years till June 2027, the revenue of the government will be 15 crore 42 lakh 50 thousand rupees.

The office of the Executive Engineer of Chandpur Roads and Public Paths Department gave this information on Tuesday afternoon, June 11.

According to the information received, there are 4 major bridges in Chandpur district. These are: Chandpur-Raipur Bridge, Matlab Bridge, Chandpur-Puran Bazar Bridge and Hajiganj-Ramganj Bridge. The Chandpur-Raipur bridge has been completed with the toll collection agency in light of the National Toll Policy formulated in 2014 for a period of 3 years. The government's Ministry of Bridges and Communications will receive this revenue from the bridge over the next three years.

According to the agreement, the period will start from 1 July 2024 and will end on 30 June 2027. Apart from this, 15% VAT and 5% income tax should be deposited in the revenue sector of the government as per the terms of the agreement and the total amount of toll should be paid in 12 installments to the lessee or toll receiver. The length of the bridge is 248 meters. Which was built at a cost of 18 crores 12 lakhs. The bridge is built over the Dakatiya river which runs south from Wireless of Chandpur district headquarters and is known as Chandpur-Raipur Bridge.

Matlab Setu In the next 3 years, the government's Ministry of Bridges and Communications will get a revenue of Tk 6 crore 27 thousand 50 thousand from the bridge. According to the agreement, the period will start on July 1, 2024 and will end on June 30, 2027. Apart from this, 15% VAT and 5% income tax are to be deposited in the revenue sector of the government as per the terms of the agreement. The Matlab bridge was built to connect Matlab north-south and trade, communication and send agricultural products, to communicate with different districts including Dhaka, Narayanganj. This bridge was built on the Meghna-Dhanagoda river in Matlab at a cost of 87 crores and 84 lakhs. Its length is 304.51 meters.

According to Chandpur Roads and Public Paths Department sources, a National Toll Collection Committee has been formed with several ministries of the country. According to the decision of that committee, a 'National Toll Collection Policy' was made in 2014 to collect revenue from bridges across the country. According to the national policy, all bridges up to 199 meters in all districts of the country are eligible for toll collection.

The concerned department of the government will be considered to be able to collect revenue from it.

According to the national toll collection policy, the Matlab Bridge of Chandpur and the Chandpur-Raipur Bridge are also toll-collectable. Chandpur's other two major bridges, Puran Bazar-Chandpur and Hajiganj-Ramganj Bridge, have been declared toll-free even before the 2014 toll collection policy. So it is not possible to collect toll even under this policy. '

Meanwhile, Hajiganj-Ramganj bridge toll collection agreement was signed on November 20, 2002. The term of which was till 9 November 2010. Following the application of local public representatives, traders, transport owners and workers, toll collection was declared free in 2010 at that time. The length of the bridge is 116.61 meters.

The Chandpur-Puran Bazar Bridge was awarded a toll contract on 11 March 2010. On March 11, 2011, the bridge was declared toll-free as a result of the petition of local public representatives, Chandpur businessmen, transport owners-workers and Chandpur residents. The length of the bridge is 260.59 meters.

Incidentally, the National Policy was adopted in 2014 in an inter-ministerial meeting. The National Toll Collection Policy 2014 has been formed with the senior officials of several ministries including the Ministry of Planning, Communications, Bridges, Finance, Establishment of the government. Whether a bridge is toll free or not is entirely at the discretion of the committee. It is said that the Roads and Highways Department cannot declare toll collection agreements or 'toll free' at will.