Helemul Alam

Donning vests that say “DSCC Toll Collector”, they move around Gulistan, Jai Kali Mandir Road (between Thathari Bazar and Wari), Motijheel, Fulbaria, Azimpur and Laxmibazar (near Bahadur Shah Park) in the capital -- signaling commercial vehicles to stop.

Some of these toll collectors are quite energetic. Oftentimes they run behind vehicles whose drivers are mostly baffled to see the signal to stop in the middle of the road.

Though collecting tolls at a terminal or designated point may be a normal practice, many things are wrong in the abovementioned situation.

First of all, even though the toll is being collected in the name of terminals, there is none. Secondly, this collection is going on violating a government order. And lastly, it’s being collected in the middle of the road in the name of road repair, as per the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC).

These tolls range from Tk 10 to Tk 60 and are collected from CNG-run auto rickshaws, human haulier, pickup vans, minibuses and buses.

DSCC introduced the levy on different modes of transports from terminals, a move that people involved in the sector have termed illegal and violation of a government order.

DSCC leased out the two “terminals” -- Gulistan-Jai Kali Mandir (Saydabad) bus terminal and Fulbaria bus terminal -- to Uttara Chaka and Minhaz Enterprise respectively, on November 11 and October 13 last year.

Mentionable, Uttara Chaka won the bid at Tk 2.93 crore while Minhaz Enterprise secured the one-year contract at Tk 2.50 crore.

According to the one-year contract, the two companies have been authorised to collect tolls from commercial transports from the two terminals -- which do not exist.

The amount collected is kept by the companies.

DSCC also allowed the two companies to collect toll in the name of stopover terminals from over two dozen designated points of the city under its jurisdiction.

INSTITUTIONALISED EXTORTION?

Transport insiders, however, said the two terminals do not fall in the category of bus terminals as those do not provide any amenities associated with one.

They said this “toll collection” is nothing less than an “institutionalised extortion”. Besides, the companies seem to be in a mad race for making as much money as they can, they alleged.

They also said collecting tolls at different points on the street is a violation of a government order. The lessees even collect tolls from trucks and rickshaw-vans, violating contracts, they alleged.

Osman Ali, general secretary of Bangladesh Road Transport Workers’ Federation, said Fulbaria, Jatrabari, Ittefaq crossing, Demra and Natyamancha at Gulistan are not terminals.

“A terminal is a place where a restroom, washroom and some other facilities should be in place,” Osman told The Daily Star recently.

He also said as per a contract between the LGRD ministry and bus owners, the city corporations cannot collect tolls from roads.

DSCC has even authorised the two companies to collect tolls from vehicles at kitchen markets and from roads, alleged Osman, adding that some people are collecting tolls from truckers at night.

He said they have already raised the issue with DSCC authorities.

“The way the city corporation is collecting tolls, it might force the owners to stop operating their buses,” he warned.

LGRD UNAWARE

The LGRD ministry in a letter issued on December 3, 2015, said collecting tolls from highways by setting up boxes and other means by the city corporations and municipalities instead of designated bus or truck terminals is illegal.

The letter also directed all concerned to refrain from such harassment.

Contacted recently, Mohammad Nure Alam Siddiqui, joint secretary of the Local Government Division, said they were not aware of the DSCC decision.

“They [DSCC] did not inform us,” said Siddiqui.

He also mentioned that the LGRD directive on city corporations and municipalities is still valid.

Asked, Supreme Court lawyer Shafiqul Islam Babul said collecting toll from roads without providing any terminal facility is not logical.

“They [DSCC] should have held meetings with the home ministry, BRTA, Road Transport Owners’ Association, Road Transport Workers’ Association and other stakeholders before imposing it,” he said.

COMPLAINTS POUR IN

Visiting different city points recently, this correspondent saw the toll collectors at work.

Stopping two goods-carrying vehicles in the middle of the road, a man collects toll from drivers in Wari’s Jai Kali Mandir area, top . Even though these workers, wearing DSCC vests, continue to collect tolls from commercial transports for using “terminals”, there is none in the area. The photos were taken last week.

Photo: Rashed Shumon