Fresh tenders not opened in 8 monthsToll plazas still run by firms with expired contracts

Despite the expiry of contracts, at least five toll plazas under the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) continue to be operated by companies awarded leases during the tenure of the last government.

Even though the RHD floated fresh tenders last year to appoint new companies for these toll plazas, the tenders have not been opened in over eight months, for reasons yet to be disclosed, according to sources.

A significant number of companies reportedly participated in the tenders. However, despite the presence of the lowest qualified bidders, no work orders have been issued. The delay is allegedly benefiting previous leaseholders, allowing them to continue toll operations without new contracts in place.

The five toll plazas included the Sherpur Bridge Toll Plaza, Hz. Shah Paran (R:) Bridge Toll Plaza, Meghna Bridge Toll Plaza, Fenchugonj Bridge Toll Plaza, and Shahid Mayez Uddin (Ghorashal) Bridge Toll Plaza.

The tenders, floated under the Open Tendering Method (OTM), include: Sherpur Bridge Toll Plaza-- at the 204th km of the Dhaka (Katchpur)-Bhairab-Jagadishpur-Shaistagonj-Sylhet-Tamabil-Jaflong Road (N-2), under Sylhet Road Division, was scheduled to open on December 23, 2024.

Tk 3.5 crore collected in 24 hours at Jamuna Bridge Toll Plaza

Hz. Shah Paran (R:) Bridge Toll Plaza--- at the 7th km of Sylhet Town Bypass Road (N-210), was also scheduled for December 23, 2024.

Meghna and Gomoti Bridges Toll Plazas--- at the 25th km and 42nd–43rd km of the Dhaka–Chattogram National Highway, under Narayanganj Road Division, was scheduled to open in April 2025.

Fenchugonj Bridge Toll Plaza at the 36th km of Moulvibazar–Rajnagor–Fenchugonj–Sylhet Road, was set to open on December 11, 2024.

Shahid Mayez Uddin (Ghorashal) Bridge Toll Plaza, at the 25th km of Tongi–Kaligonj–Ghorashal–Panchdona Road (R-301), under Narsingdi Road Division, was also slated for April 2025.

Sources at the RHD headquarters alleged that a section of vested quarters is profiting from the delay, resulting in significant revenue loss for the government.

Contacted for comment, ASM Elias Shah, Additional Chief Engineer (Management Services Wing) of RHD, declined to comment when he was asked about delaying the opening of those tenders in scheduled times.