Toll collection continues on Garai Bridge for 3 decades

Even though the collected toll from Kamarkhali Upazila’s Garai Bridge has been nearly three times higher than its construction cost since its opening, the practice is still on. The non-stop toll collection is causing anger among locals and regular commuters who say the government should make the bridge a toll-free one.

Locals alleged the administration has, however, failed to take any initiative to address the issue. The bridge, built on Dhaka-Khulna Highway spending Tk 50 crore, was opened to traffic about three decades ago. Since then, Tk 147.19 crore has been collected as tax, sources said.

Every day, about 3,000 to 3,500 vehicles cross the 622-metre bridge. Each one has to pay between Tk 5 and Tk 565, said Kartik Datta, manager of M/s Mostafa, tasked with the toll collection.

The firm was appointed as fee collector for three years from July 1, 2018. It will pay Faridpur Road Division Tk 64.87 crore in three phases. So far, it has paid Tk 18 crore.

“We collect Tk 5-5.5 lakh every day from the bridge,” said Hafizur Rahman, another manager of the firm.

Commuters are not happy as Nasir Hossain Molla, a truck driver, said he uses the bridge about 10 times daily and has to pay a fee every single time. “It’s irritating,” he said.

General Secretary of Faridpur Bus Owners’ Group Faruk Alam Bhuiyan said nearly 2,000 buses use the bridge every day. “We demand this bridge be made a toll-free one as soon as possible,” he said.

But the end to the suffering is nowhere in sight. KM Rakibul Bari, executive engineer of Faridpur road division, said there has been no directive from the government to stop charging fee for using the bridge.

 

Toll collection continues on Garai Bridge for 3 decades

Even though the collected toll from Kamarkhali Upazilas Garai Bridge has been nearly three times higher than its construction cost since its opening, the practice is still on. The non-stop toll collection is causing anger among locals and regular commuters who say the government should make the bridge a toll-free one. Locals alleged the administration has, however, failed to take any initiative to address the issue. The bridge, built on Dhaka-Khulna Highway spending Tk 50 crore, was opened to traffic about three decades ago. Since then, Tk 147.19 crore has been collected as tax, sources said. Every day, about 3,000 to 3,500 vehicles cross the 622-metre bridge. Each one has to pay between Tk 5 and Tk 565, said Kartik Datta, manager of M/s Mostafa, tasked with the toll collection. The firm was appointed as fee collector for three years from July 1, 2018. It will pay Faridpur Road Division Tk 64.87 crore in three phases. So far, it has paid Tk 18 crore. We collect Tk 5-5.5 lakh every day from the bridge, said Hafizur Rahman, another manager of the firm. Commuters are not happy as Nasir Hossain Molla, a truck driver, said he uses the bridge about 10 times daily and has to pay a fee every single time. Its irritating, he said. General Secretary of Faridpur Bus Owners Group Faruk Alam Bhuiyan said nearly 2,000 buses use the bridge every day. We demand this bridge be made a toll-free one as soon as possible, he said. But the end to the suffering is nowhere in sight. KM Rakibul Bari, executive engineer of Faridpur road division, said there has been no directive from the government to stop charging fee for using the bridge.