Bangabandhu Tunnel toll collection tops Tk4.4 lakh in first 12 hrs

A total of 2,064 vehicles crossed the River Karnaphuli in Chattogram using the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel in the first 12 hours after it opened to traffic at 6am on Sunday.

Tk4,41,600 toll was collected from the vehicles until 6pm, the tunnel's Toll Manager (Local) Md Belayet Hossain told The Business Standard.

The number of vehicles in the tunnel had been low since the morning due to the countrywide strike, he said.

"However, it continued to increase as the day progressed," added Belayet. 

Since the morning, vehicular pressure was higher at the tunnel's Anwara end compared to its Patenga end.

The tunnel's Deputy Project Director Abul Kalam Azad said, "The tunnel will remain open 24/7 from now on, with the possibility of reducing toll lanes late at night when vehicular pressure decreases." 

He added that arrangements have been made to ensure that no vehicle has to wait in line. "We also encourage drivers to maintain a speed of 60km per hour in the tunnel, and ensure that vehicles do not come to a stop inside."

The tunnel was inaugurated by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday. She crossed the tunnel after paying the toll as the first passenger on the same day.

First regular commuter in the tunnel

Jewel Rana, a resident of Munshiganj, made history as the first person to cross the tunnel after paying the toll on the first day.

Accompanied by some friends, he reached the Anwara end of Chattogram at 3am in the morning and became the first passenger to pay the toll at 6am.

Sharing his excitement, Jewel Rana said, "While waiting at the tunnel area, more cars arrived and lined up behind me. At that moment, I thought I might not be the first to pay the toll. But I am delighted that I was able to make the inaugural payment."

Meanwhile, a bus hired by the BD Bus Lover Group became the first passenger bus to cross the tunnel.

On this side, people have been coming to see the tunnel since morning. However, entering the tunnel, riding two-wheelers and three-wheelers is prohibited. As a result, from the Patenga end, some microbuses have arranged trips inside the tunnel. People are brought into the tunnel for two hundred taka each, taken around and then brought back to the Patenga end.

Shamim Hossain, the driver of the Shyamoli bus from Naogaon, has taken a seat on a microbus for visiting the tunnel. He told TBS, "Last night, I drove the Shyamoli bus to Chittagong. I will return this afternoon. I'm free in the morning, so I came to see the tunnel a bit."

Microbus driver Md. Russell told TBS at 12pm, "I have made five trips since morning, carrying passengers. I have taken around 11-12 passengers on each trip."

The government had previously announced a fixed toll schedule for vehicles using the tunnel.

According to the notification by the bridge department, toll charges include Tk200 for jeeps or pickups, Tk250 for microbuses, Tk300 for buses with 31 seats or fewer, Tk400 for buses with 32 seats or more, and Tk500 for 3-axle buses. Trucks up to 5 tons pay Tk400, up to 8 tons pay Tk500, and trucks with a capacity of 8 to 11 tons are charged Tk600.

The notification further detailed that 3-axle trailers would pay Tk800, 4-axle trailers would pay Tk1,000, and each additional axle beyond four would incur an additional fee of Tk200.