The country’s first model filling station having modern facilities in Sylhet will be started as a test operation this week, which will help to change the concept of highway services, officials said.
The construction work of five other model filling stations is going in full swing. The initiative comes at a time when the government is developing several high-speed corridors across Bangladesh, including the Dhaka-Khulna highway.
Under the programme of ‘Mujib Barsho,’ Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s birth centenary, Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has taken an initiative to set up seven world-class model filling stations in different parts of the country with financial support from some private entrepreneurs.
Three state-owned companies-- Padma Oil Company Limited, Meghna Petroleum Limited and Jamuna Oil Company Limited—are supervising the task, an official said.
According to BPC sources, currently, most of the stations lack even basic facilities like washrooms for drivers and passengers. Besides, there are allegations of adulteration of fuel oil with under-weighting against various station owners.
The country's socio-economic development, business viability and inter-country road network facilities have encouraged the government to set up the model filling stations.
When contacted, Numan Ahmed Taffader, General Manager (Marketing) of Padma Oil Company Limited said that the ‘M/S Haji Masud Ali Model Filling Station’ has been set up at Osmaninagor Upazila on Dhaka-Sylhet highways worth around taka 10 crores. It will be started as a test operation on Sunday.
“We are happy and proud to be the first model filling station in the country on the occasion of Mujib Year. Of the seven model filling stations, it was the last one to get approval. But the work has been completed first within only seven months. Hopefully, the filling station will be officially inaugurated as soon as possible after the end of the test run,” he added.
Numan Ahmed also said, “All types of advanced services for passengers and transport workers, including owners have been ensured here. In addition to selling fuel oil, the station owner can earn money by others services. It has been built as a business successful and passenger and transport worker-friendly filling station. Here both parties will benefit. The right weight with pure fuel will be sold here.
BPC officials said, the model filling station will be set up spread over an area of 2.15 acres of land beside the highway, which will have all modern amenities and services including office room, rest room for drivers, restaurant, stationery shop, washing facility, and a mini-park, playground for children.
It would also have improved toilets, dormitories, breastfeeding center, dress changing room, parking space, ATM booth, prayers room, owners' room, facilities for physically challenged persons, mobile phone charging point, water body and self-dealing system with all other passenger facilities. People will go for filling fuel like petrol, octane, diesel and CNG there.
Besides, lubricant storage, medical unit space, firefighting system, battery change-charging and tyre pumping facilities will have to ensure at the model filling stations along with shed for some 22 vehicles refueling facility at a time. It will also have electric car charging system, solar charging facility in there.
The model filling stations will have octane storage capacity of 18,000 liters, petrol storage capacity of 13,000 liters and the total storage capacity of the two high speed diesel storage tanks at 60,000 liters and auto gas (LPG) capacity at 20,000 liters. It will also have 13 private cars, 20 buses and trucks parking facilities along with four battery-powered car charging systems.
Padma Oil Company Limited is supervising another filling station, which is under construction in the Tangail district of Dhaka-Tangail highway.
Md. Ayub Hossain, GM (Marketing) of Jamuna Oil Company Limited told Bangladesh Post “Two model filling stations are developing under our supervision at Sitakundu of Dhaka-Chattagram Highway and Sherpur of Bogura district. Hopefully, its operation will start by March 31.”
A K M Akter Kamal Chowdhury, Deputy General Manager (Sales) of Meghna Petroleum Limited told Bangladesh Post, “We have approved three model filling stations. Of these, one is being constructed at Sonapahar of Chattagram. Around 95 percent of work has already been done on the filling station. Hopefully, it can start operation from March 17. Another filling station has been set up at Purbachal of Dhaka and its working progress is around 30 percent. However, there is no progress of the third filling station. Its approval may be canceled due to delay.”
Earlier, the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources conducted a survey and found that the new concept of setting up model filling stations on highways has huge benefits. The survey was conducted following various criticisms and allegations against petrol pumps across the country and the government took the initiative to introduce model filling stations on the basis of the survey.
The survey reveals serious and mysterious information, which shows that 62% of pumps cannot make a profit by selling diesel, octane and petrol and they (petrol pumps) are facing losses.
According to the survey, conventional petrol pumps are selling adulterated oil and manipulating weight, while model filing stations like the developed world will be able to make profits by selling fuel and providing other vehicles and customers related services.
Bangladesh is about to enter the era of South Asia and Trans Asian Highway and BBIN agreements in this regard have been signed with India, Nepal and Bhutan. Those countries have agreed to use the Bangladeshi ports of Chattogram and Mongla. As a result, pumps should be of international standard and design was prepared as of the developed countries.