Tk 52.52 lakh toll collected from 64,751 vehicles

A total of 64,751motor vehicles moved from Kawla to Farmgate through the Dhaka Elevated Expressway and gave over Tk 52,52,240 as toll during the last 59 hours.

“Dhaka Elevated Expressway was opened for public to ease the traffic congestion in the capital . .. . the traffic movement through the expressway started at 6 am on September 3,” project director of the Elevated Expressway AHMS Akter told the journalists.

In the inaugural 59 hours of its operation, the Dhaka Elevated Expressway witnessed the passage of 64,751 vehicles traveling from Kawla to Farmgate, he said.

During this period, toll collections amounted to over Tk 52,52,240, while a total of Tk 18,52,880 was collected as toll from the first 24 hours,” Akter said.

It takes only 10-12 minutes to reach Farmgate from the airport through the expressway.
Earlier, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the much-awaited expressway’s HSIA-Farmgate section unveiling the inaugural plaque at the Old Trade Fair Ground at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar on September 2.

Apart from pedestrians, three wheelers, bicycles and motorbikes are not allowed to ply the expressway.

The length of this section is about 11.5 km. There are 15 ramps for boarding.

Out of these, two ramps situated at Banani and Mohakhali will remain closed for the time being. The maximum speed limit for traffic on the expressway will be 60 km per hour.

The road transport and bridges ministry fixed the toll rates for HSIA-Farmgate section ranging from Taka 80 to Taka 400.

Under category 1, the toll rate for car, taxi, jeep, sports utility vehicle, microbus (under 16 seats) and light truck (under 3 tonnes) is Taka 80.

The toll rate for medium truck (up to six wheels) for crossing the route from any point is Taka 320 under category 2.

Under category 3, the toll rate for truck (over six wheels) for crossing the route from any point is Taka 400. The toll rate for any bus (16 seated or above) for crossing the route from any point is Tk 160 under category 4. (BSS)