Since the Bangabandhu Tunnel opened to traffic on Sunday, authorities concerned have collected Tk 1.48 lakh as toll from 498 vehicles that went through the tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in seven hours.
Toll manager Belayet Hossain said that 498 vehicles went through since the tunnel opened. A total of Tk 1,48,200 was collected till 1pm on Sunday.
The tunnel opened for vehicular movement at 6am on Sunday.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country’s first underwater tunnel on Saturday.
Traffic movement remained low due to the ongoing countrywide hartal called by the opposition parties.
Munshiganj-based businessman Jewel Rana was the first passenger to pay the toll at the Anwara end of the tunnel at 6am, and crossed it in just three minutes.
Dulal Sikder from Chattogram was the first to pay the toll at the Patenga end of the tunnel.
“The tunnel was opened to traffic in the morning. Although traffic movement through the tunnel remains low, it may increase as the day progresses. But if there was no hartal, there would have been more vehicles,” said Belayet.
As many as 14 boxes have been set up at Anwara end to collect the toll.
Deputy Project Director of the Bangabandhu Tunnel, Md Abul Kalam Azad, said that the tunnel will remain open for vehicular movement 24 hours a day.
According to the Bridges Division, as many as 17,374 vehicles will cross the tunnel every day in the first year after the opening. Of these, 3,218 are heavy vehicles. In 2025, the number of vehicles passing per day will be 28,305.
A total of 12 categories of vehicles will be able to go through the Bangabandhu Tunnel.
The minimum toll for traffic movement in the tunnel has been set at Tk 200, and the maximum is Tk 1,000. Motorcycles or three-wheelers will not be allowed in the tunnel.
On Saturday, the prime minister crossed the Bangabandhu Tunnel with a 21-vehicle motorcade and paid a toll of Tk 4,000.
