Dhaka North bus terminals go to private operators

For the first time, Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) has leased Gabtoli and Mohakhali inter-district bus terminals through open tenders for over Tk12 crore for one year.

Gabtoli Terminal has been leased to Rafi Traders Limited for Tk7.39 crore for one year – from 12 January 2021 to 11 January 2022.

Gazi Raiyan Enterprise has got the lease of Mohakhali Terminal for Tk4.62 crore for one year – from 26 January 2021 to 25 January 2022.

The lessees will also have to pay the utility bills of the terminals along with other rents. The two lessees handed over cheques to Dhaka North Mayor Atiqul Islam on Tuesday.

After receiving the cheques, Atiqul Islam said they could not collect revenues from these bus terminals before as there prevailed some problems. The toll collector would rather demand than pay money to the city corporation.

The agreement was unequal and made to favour a special group, and consequently, the city corporation lost revenues, he said, adding that at least Tk150 crore could have been collected in the last 12 years. "That is why we called open tenders," he added.

"When the tender process started, city corporation officers were threatened. I told them not to give in to those threats and arrange the tender process as per the law, which was implemented today," the mayor said.

In 2009, Md Jasim Uddin and Sahidullah Enterprise were appointed as collectors of tolls from Gabtoli and Mohakhali bus terminals respectively. Earlier, in the undivided city corporation, they were appointed on condition that they would pay Tk1.17 lakh for Gabtoli and Tk50,500 for Mohakhali terminal per day.

The new lessees have been given conditions to maintain a good environment in the bus terminals. Otherwise, the lease will be cancelled, the mayor said further.

From Dhaka North, its Chief Executive Officer Md Selim Reza, General Manager (Transport) Mizanur Rahman and Chief Purchasing Officer Sagir Hossain were present on the occasion.

Notable sectors of revenue collection at both bus terminals under the new lease are as follows: bus and minibus will pay a daily toll of Tk50, CNG (taxi) Tk10, pushcart and van Tk10, pick-up van Tk30. The electricity bill is Tk15.36 per unit.

At Gabtoli Bus Terminal, the rent of a permanent shop in the main building is Tk5 and for a temporary shop is Tk25 per square feet per month.

The fee of a 15-sq-ft temporary shop is Tk225 and of a 36-sq-ft shop Tk360 per month. And, the rent of a permanent tea and fruit shop in the main building is Tk750, that of betel leaf stall Tk500, and that of food stall Tk1,000. Apart from these, the fee of a car wash ramp is Tk6,000 per month.

At Mohakhali Bus Terminal, the fee of six 104-sq-ft- or 875-sq-ft-shop and canteen is Tk21 and Tk33 per sq ft a month. Temporary shops have to pay Tk16 per sq ft a month. The rent of a large ticket counter is Tk6,675 a month.

Earlier, during the tenure of undivided Dhaka City Corporation, a collection assistant was appointed to collect revenue from two terminals at a nominal price. The amount of money earmarked for this collection has not been increased for a long time.

Besides, the collection assistants did not deposit around Tk4 crore to Dhaka North till 31 August 2020, shuffling various excuses. To address these irregularities, Dhaka North authorities took the initiative to lease the terminals through open tenders, authorities concerned said.