The bridges division has prepared a proposed toll for the Bangabandhu Shiekh Mujibur Rahman tunnel built under the Karnaphuli river in Chattogram.
According to the proposal, vehicles will have to pay Tk 200 to Tk 1,000 based on their type.
Road transport and bridges minister Obaidul Quader has approved the proposed toll. The proposed rate is now awaiting approval at the finance ministry.
Private cars, jeeps and pickups will have to pay Tk 200 for using the tunnel while the toll rate is Tk 75 for a private car and Tk 100 for a jeep on Shah Amanat Bridge over the tunnel.
The proposed toll for a microbus is Tk 250 while the rate is Tk 100 for the Shah Amanat Bridge. A bus with 31 or fewer seats will have to pay Tk 300 to cross the tunnel while a bus with 32 or more seats will have to pay Tk 400. The rates are Tk 50 and Tk 155 for the bridge respectively.
The toll rate is Tk 400 for a 5-tonne truck, Tk 500 for a 5-8 tonne truck and Tk 600 for a 8-11 tonne truck. The rate is Tk 130, Tk 200 and Tk 300 respectively in the bridge.
The proposed toll rate for a trailer (4-axel) is Tk 1000 which is Tk 750 on the bridge. Tk 200 would be added for each axle over 4.
Bridges division’s deputy secretary Md Abul Hasan told Prothom Alo the toll rate has been prepared comparing the rate for Shah Amanat Bridge and other bridges of the country. The rates are not finalised yet since it needs finance ministry’s approval and law ministry’s vetting. Finally, the rates would be finalised upon the prime minister office’s approval.
As per the feasibility study of the project, a total of 28,305 vehicles are projected to use the tunnel daily in 2025. The number of vehicles is supposed to reach 37,946 in 2030 and 162,000 in 2067.
Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) Chattogram chapter’s former president Delowar Majumder said the toll rate should be kept at a rational level or otherwise people would not use it.
He said vehicles would use the Shah Amanat bridge instead of tunnel if the toll seems exorbitant to the people.
The Tk 103.74 billion project is likely to be completed next January, said the project officials.