As per the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s directive for collecting toll from vehicles in the highways, finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said the toll money will be used for repairing highways across the country.
“It is not possible to provide huge amounts of money every year for repairing highways. Money from tolls will be used to repair it,” he said at a seminar held at National Economic Council (NEC) conference room in the capital.
The seminar was chaired by Nazrul Islam, secretary of Road Transport and Bridges ministry, power, energy and mineral resources minister Nasrul Hamid, chairman of parliamentary standing committee member on Road Transport and Bridges ministry Ekabbar Hossain, actor Elias Kanchan and principal secretary of Prime Ministers’ Office on SDG affairs, Abul Kalam Azad were also present at the seminar.
Suggesting for the introduction of automatic toll system for vehicles, Kamal said prepaid meters should be installed in every vehicle.
Passing specific distance, bills will be paid automatically. There will be no jam at toll plaza, he added. However, the minister said new projects should be taken as per considering the fund and capacity.
Kamal suggested for implementing the ongoing development projects properly. “Not increasing number of projects, increase the quality of work for completing the projects. You (Government Officials) should give work to capable manpower. You have given many projects to the same company. Such type of companies did not work properly and complete project in due time,” he added.
Nasrul Hamid said Singapore has constructed the best roads in the world. If Transport sectors use electricity excluding fuel, $2 billion will of the country will be saved. Many countries are using electricity in the transport sector, he added.
Elias Kanchan said, “Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina told several times to construct roads and highways using concrete. But we did not yet start constructing roads and highways as per her instructions.”
