Ahmed Pabel, Sylhet: A ‘game of invisibility’ worth crores of taka is going on in Sylhet’s toll plazas!
Toll collection without receipts, special collection missing, tenders pending for years.
The only question is – who is getting a share of this money?
The promise of revenue return, the reality is different
The importance of the road communication system in the Sylhet region is increasing day by day. As the pressure of passenger and goods transport has increased, the government has built bridges and roads at a cost of crores of taka. Although it was supposed to return revenue through toll collection, in reality these toll plazas have now become ‘hotspots’ of corruption and irregularities. Toll collection without receipts, special collection worth crores of taka missing, and non-reconciliation of money – these images are now a daily occurrence in Sylhet’s toll management.
Six toll plazas, revenue streams – where is the money going?
According to relevant sources, three of the six toll plazas in Sylhet division—Sherpur Bridge, Shahparan Bypass Bridge and Fenchuganj Kushiara River Bridge—were previously operated by a private company, ATT. The Roads and Highways Department (SOHD) took over the responsibility of these three from October 1, 2023. The remaining three are Rustampur, Raniganj and Chhatak toll plazas on the Dhaka-Sylhet highway.
4-5 lakh taka is collected from Sherpur every day, 1.5-2 lakh taka from Fenchuganj and 1-1.5 lakh taka from Shahparan Bridge. However, only a nominal part of this is deposited in the government treasury. According to the rules, the money is supposed to be deposited in the bank every day or every other day, but in reality it is deposited after a week or even later.
Toll collection without receipts, software not used despite being available
A field investigation has shown that tolls are being collected from small vehicles, especially CNG auto-rickshaws, without receipts. Despite the existence of software in some places, it is not being used; handwritten receipts are being exchanged. As a result, since the toll collection information is not updated, there is no record of a lot of money. The question arises – where is this money going? Who is getting a share of this illegal income?
Tenders pending due to complications of fake certificates
The biggest irregularity is that the tender process has not been completed even after two years. Despite the claims of the SAWZ authorities, the process is being repeatedly delayed. Behind this is the complication of a fake experience certificate of a company.
Although a company named ‘Ms. Md. Jamil Iqbal’ is the lowest bidder for six toll plazas, questions have arisen about the experience certificate they submitted. The company claimed that they worked on a project of Sylhet City Corporation (SCC) worth Tk 12 crore in 2020-2023 – which included automatic toll collection, weight measurement system and installation of CCTV.
But when I visited the project area with CCIC Chief Engineer Nur Azizur Rahman, it was seen that there is no such modern infrastructure in reality. Although there are some CCTV cameras, they were installed after the tender submission period.
Nur Azizur Rahman told Ajker Sylhet that the project work shown to us is practically non-existent. The CSR project has only been shown on paper.
Syndicate’s ‘game of corruption’
Analysts claim that a well-organized syndicate has been playing the game of corruption over toll leases for years. Even though tenders are called, the evaluation is delayed to give the work to the company of their choice. Sometimes, even if 30-40 percent less bidders come, they are kept waiting without giving work to those with whom the division is already agreed.
Not only these six plazas, the same irregularities are going on in some other areas including Chhatak in Bishwanath, Zakiganj and Sunamganj. Even though all this happens under the nose of the local administration, effective action is not taken.
Government is losing revenue, development is stalling
The revenue that was supposed to be collected from tolls was originally planned to be used for road renovation, traffic management and technology development. But due to the money being embezzled, development has also stalled. According to informed sources, it is important to complete the tender process quickly, assign responsibility to experienced organizations and take legal action against fake certificate issuers.
Authority’s statement
Additional Chief Engineer of Soj Sylhet Zone Abu Sayeed Md. Nazmul Huda told Ajker Sylhet that the tender evaluation committee will meet next Monday. A final decision will be taken on the matter there.
