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Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has proposed a new toll rate for the Bangabandhu Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River.
The toll for the tunnel will be 1.5 to 2.5 times higher than the existing toll for Shah Amanat Bridge over the Karnaphuli River.
The BBA-proposed new toll on the tunnel was sent to the Ministry of Roads and Bridges earlier this month. The Bangabandhu Tunnel is scheduled to be opened towards the end of this year.
Usually, the toll for a new bridge or tunnel is determined by taking into account the current rate of the nearest similar structure, said Dr Md Moniruzzaman, Director of Planning, Maintenance and Development of (BBA).
In the case of Bangabandhu Tunnel, the toll chart of Shah Amanat Bridge has also been taken into consideration.
“Considering the overall situation, we have recommended 1.5-2.5 times higher toll than Shah Amanat Bridge,” he said. The proposal will go to the Finance Department of the government through the Ministry of Bridges for final approval, he added.
The Construction of the 3.4KM underground passageway is a significant part of the world’s longest Super Marine Drive from Mirsrai to Teknaf and Asian Highway connecting Chittagong Port and Matarbari Deep Seaport.
Several government officials earlier declared that the two tubes of the Bangabandhu Tunnel built under the Karnaphuli River would be opened in December. Harunur Rashid, the Project Director of the tunnel, said all the works including the construction and safety measures of the tunnel would be completed by December.
In the meantime, the government has taken the decision to appoint the Chinese firm ‘China Construction and Communication Company (CCCC)’, the construction contractor of the tunnel, as a maintenance operator for five years.
The BBA has also finalized a new project worth TK983 crore to appoint an operator of which a new contract of TK650 crore will be signed with CCCC.
Four vehicle scanners will be purchased for this project for Tk300 crore and the rest of TK33 cores will be kept aside for the tunnel-related work.
Last month, the BBA sent a proposal to the ministry to fix the toll rates and the criteria for the movement of vehicles.
In that proposal, it sought a ban on movement of auto-rickshaws and motorcycles, including vehicles carrying flammable materials. But, the ministry asked BBA to reconsider the proposal.
“As per the proposal of the Ministry, we have again revised the proposal by allowing the movement of motorcycles and auto rickshaws,” said Dr Md Moniruzzaman. Still, the issue of vehicles carrying flammable materials including fuel has been left upon the recommendation of the consultant.
Initially around 10-12 thousand vehicles will cross the tunnel every day.
According to an analysis of the feasibility study report of the tunnel, some 13.9 million vehicles are expected to run annually through the tunnel by 2030, 32.9 million by 2050 and 50.5 million by 2062.
The present toll rate of Shah Amanat Bridge is Tk10 for motorcycles, Tk30 for auto-rickshaws, Tk155 for bus, Tk100 for minibus, Tk50-100 for microbus, car and jeep, Tk130 for mini truck, Tk200 for medium-sized truck, and Tk300 for truck and Tk750 for long trailer.
At a cost of around TK 10,000 crore the construction of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, which connects Anwara and Patenga on both banks of the Karnaphuli River near the mouth of the Bay of Bengal, is 90 percent complete.
