Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) will not allow exemption from toll payment to any person and quarter, except the president, for using the bridges under its jurisdiction, including the Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge.
The BBA Board in its 112th meeting on Thursday took the decision as various quarters, including freedom fighters and government agencies, had applied to the BBA in different times for the exemption from toll payment. While briefing journalists at the Setu Bhaban in Dhaka after the board meeting, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said all have to pay tolls to cross the bridges.
"No one will get such a scope like the Padma Bridge; even being the minister, I will not get the exemption," he said.
Officials, however, said the demand for exemption came from different quarters as the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) has the exemption option for the freedom fighters, ambulances and vehicles of agencies under the Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges.
The BBA has three bridges - Padma Multipurpose Bridge, Bangabandhu Jamuna Multipurpose Bridge and Muktarpur Bridge - under its jurisdiction. Several others are also in the pipeline.
The same board meeting also directed the BBA to start a negotiation with the previously-selected lowest bidder for toll collection work of the Jamuna Bridge - the negotiation remained halted for seven years due to a legal barrier. The legal barrier is now over, said the minister, adding that the negotiation will have to be completed within 15 days.
If the negotiation fails, a tender process will be initiated, added the minister.
Besides, the board approved a proposal to lease out 185 acres of land for a solar power plant at Shibpur in Madaripur district.
smunima@yahoo.com