The High Court on Sunday asked the government to explain in seven days
the legality of collecting toll on high rate from vehicle users of newly
constructed Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover in the capital.
The HC also asked the authorities to file an explanation as to why they
should not be directed to take action against Orion Infrastructure
Limited for collection of toll on creased rate and beyond the agreement
on the toll.
The court sought another explanation from the government as to why they
should not be directed to stop collection of tolls from the flyover on
high rate.
A bench of Justice Quazi Reza-Ul Hoque and Justice ABM Altaf Hossain
issued the orders after hearing a public interest litigation writ
petition filed by three Supreme Court lawyers, Satya Ranjan Mandol, M
Shaiful Alam and Md Ruhul Quddus Patwary, challenging the legality of
collecting the toll on high rate.
The court also asked the Dhaka South City Corporation to submit copy of
agreement between the corporation and the Orion Group over the rate of
tolls.
The court directed government attorneys to communicate the order to the authorities.
Secretaries to the communications, local government and co-operatives
ministries, Dhaka South City Corporation’s secretary and the chief
executive officer, Dhaka deputy commissioner and Orion Infrastructure
Limited were made as respondents in the petition.
The writ petition was filed following various newspaper reports that
Orion Group, the operator of the Mayor Mohammad Hanif Flyover, was
arbitrarily charging vehicles almost double the approved rate reasoning
that the contract allowed them to revise the tariff every five years.
Because of the higher toll rate many vehicles were avoiding the flyover
and crowding the roads below. The purpose of the 10-km flyover was thus
losing the point, said the writ petitioners. (source)