The Crime Desk: Excited Mohammad Kamal Uddin reached Chittagong Shah Amanat International Airport just 15 minutes from Tiger Pass. He said that he reached the airport in just 27 minutes from Jamal Khan. A few days ago, this was unimaginable. But today it is real. He expressed hope that the city’s traffic will speed up once the elevated expressway is fully operational.
Elevated expressway partially opened. CDA does not obstruct the movement of light vehicles. CDA is examining various aspects of the elevated expressway after partial resumption of traffic. Work is also underway to resolve the identified problems in traffic. However, the toll issue will be decided before the full launch. The proposal has already been sent to the ministry. Elevated expressways without ramps and loops will be launched after the proposal is passed by the ministry.
According to the related sources of the Chittagong Development Authority (CDA), the 16 and a half-kilometer-long elevated expressway construction project was undertaken with the multi-faceted goal of speeding up the stagnant traffic of Chittagong city. The construction of the main infrastructure of the Expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga at a cost of Tk 4 thousand 298 crore has been completed. Now, various works, including lighting, CCTV, and retaining walls, are being done. The expressway has 15 ramps at important points in the city. The total length of the expressway with ramps will be 24 km with 16 and a half km of core infrastructure.
The construction of the Ambagan Road descent ramp at Tigerpass has been completed. Ramp from Lalkhan Bazar has also been completed. Ramp from GEC junction is under construction. By doing this, there is an opportunity to open the expressway partially from Tigerpass or Lalkhan Bazar. People have been using the elevated expressway for the past few months with special permission. Recently, no more permission. Light vehicles are being allowed to use the elevated expressway from Lalkhan Bazar to Kathgarh in Patenga. However, motorcycles and CNG-powered three-wheelers are not allowed to lift. Heavy vehicles are also not allowed.
Engineer Mahfuzur Rahman, Project Director of Elevated Expressway, told the media that we are allowing expressway to be used on a limited basis. Monitoring the traffic. It is identifying what kind of problems are causing them and solving them. Several issues have already been identified and resolved.
We will soon open the elevated expressway completely for traffic, he said. However, from the first day, vehicles will have to be tolled. Once toll-free vehicles are introduced, it will be difficult to collect tolls later. Initially, CDA will collect the toll only from Lalkhan Bazar or Tigerpass to Patenga. Elevated expressway boarding and alighting toll. Later, when all the ramps are completed, the 16 and a half km long flyover will have 6 points of toll collection. Tolls will be collected at different rates depending on distance and vehicle. Arrangements are being made to collect tolls through cash, a bank card, or the or the mobile banking system.
CDA officials say that two temporary toll plazas have been constructed at the Patenga end, and motorcycles and CNG taxis will be able to fly on this flyover. A proposal has been sent to the Ministry of Housing and Public Works by determining the toll from a minimum of 10 taka to a maximum of 450 taka per vehicle. The issue of toll collection will be determined after getting the approval of the Ministry. However, sources responsible for the CDA said that the issue of toll collection was mentioned while approving the project. CDA’s proposed tolls are Tk 10 and Tk 15 for motorcycles, Tk 20 and Tk 30 for CNG taxis, Tk 80 for private cars, Tk 100 for jeeps and microbuses, Tk 200 for minibuses, Tk 280 for big buses, Tk 150 for pickups, Tk 200 for four-wheeler trucks, Tk 200 for 6-wheeler trucks. A toll of Tk 300 and Tk 450 for covered vans and trailers has been proposed. The expressway will be opened for all types of traffic after getting the approval of the ministry regarding the toll.
