Korean KEC to get Padma Bridge automated toll collection job

The government is going to appoint the Korea Expressway Corporation (KEC) for toll collection and maintenance of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. The South Korean company runs the toll roads in that country.

Government officials said automated toll collection on the bridge would create a milestone for the country.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal approved a proposal in this regard at the Cabinet Committee on Government Purchase on Wednesday.

The finance minister said, "Just after getting out of home, people in other countries pay numerous tolls to the government. People pay for bridges and roads so that they can be taken care of. We have not been able to introduce this system in our country yet."

"The existing toll collection booths are still manual, letting people suffer in long tailbacks," he added.

"Involving KEC in Padma Bridge toll collection will be fantastic. It will collect toll in an automated system. I approved the company as the service provider considering national interest," said the minister.

The meeting approved conditional direct purchase for the Arial Khan riverbank protection and dredging project in Madaripur's Shibchar area. The project cost might be hiked upon receiving the prime minister's approval.

The Cabinet Meeting on Government Purchase also approved consultant appointments for water supply and sanitation projects at 30 municipalities. The consultants are – DevConsultants, BETS Consulting Services Ltd and Mass Bangla Consulting Ltd, and the firms will cost the government Tk38.02 crore.

The meeting approved 30,000 tonnes of urea import proposal from the Karnaphuli Fertiliser Company Ltd (KAFCO). The government has signed a 5.5-lakh-tonne urea purchase deal with KAFCO at Tk57.59 crore.