DCC had earned Tk 9.44 crore in three years from 2000-01 to 2002-03 when the corporation itself maintained these terminals at Sayedabad, Gabtoli and Mohakhali. But after leasing out the terminals in 2003, the corporation earned only Tk 3.18 crore.

These terminals were leased out to private operators in October 2003 for three years as suggested by the World Bank, which provided funds for renovating these terminals.

At the time of leasing out the terminals DCC had set the yearly revenue target at Tk 6.81 crore from the three terminals.

After taking over the terminals, the lessees doubled the toll for using the terminals and the number of users also increased, but the revenue gradually deceased as the lessees did not pay lease money to DCC according to contract, showing different excuses.

DCC used to collect Tk 15 per bus and Tk 3 per tempo per day, but the private lessees are now charging Tk 30 per bus and Tk 5 per tempo.

"The number of Gabtoli terminal users is now 1,500 while it was 1,000 three years ago. The number of users of Sayedabad terminal has increased to 1,200 from 800 and that of Mohakhali rose to 800 from 500, but revenue earning is going down," said a DCC official.

Private terminal operators owe DCC Tk 3.63 crore as none of them paid the lease money to DCC as per contract, DCC officials said.

Rora Enterprise, owned by an ex-BNP lawmaker, took the charge of Mohakhali and Sayedabad terminals on October 31, 2003. On January 15, 2004 DCC cancelled the lease of Rora Enterprise and filed a case to collect the due of Tk 1.09 crore from the firm.

DCC is now in a legal battle with the Rora Enterprise as the ex-lessee of the two terminals has filed a case against DCC claiming that the corporation has not provided the infrastructure facilities as promised earlier.

In June 2004, Mohakhali and Sayedabad terminals were leased out to Panama Traders, owned by a BNP ward commissioner. But the collection of revenue remained irregular.

Since taking the charge of maintenance of the two terminals Panama Traders did not pay the instalments on regular basis and the current due is more than Tk 1 crore.

Director of Panama Traders Moniruzzaman said DCC did not provide infrastructural facilities as per the contract. He said that DCC handed over the terminal incomplete and they had to spend money from their pocket to increase facilities in the terminal.

"We are paying DCC as much as we can. It is true that we have some dues but DCC is also responsible for this as they did not provide facilities as per their promise," he said.

The bus terminal at Gabtali was leased out to Diba Enterprise in 2003. The lessee managed to get reduction on total payable amount from DCC showing different reasons.

As per contract Diba Enterprise would pay Tk 42,000 to DCC as daily instalment but the DCC mayor re-fixed the amount at Tk 35,000. With this decision, DCC has to lose around Tk 1 crore revenue in last three years. Diba enterprise now owes more than Tk 65 lakh to DCC.

When contacted Matiur Rahman Babul, director of Diba Enterprise, said they cleared all the dues of DCC on September 17. He alleged that few influential bus operators do not pay toll. "These operators run more than 600 buses," he said.

Acting Director General (Transport) of DCC Khandokar Millatul Islam told Star City that they are trying to collect the dues by all means. "I have taken the charge recently and I have started pressurising them to pay the dues as early as possible," he said.