The Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Tunnel under the Karnaphuli River in Chittagong has generated an income of Tk4,02,02,850 in the last month. During this period, 170,782 vehicles have crossed through the tunnel.
This income was accrued from the start of vehicular movement through the tunnel on October 29 until Monday.
Bangabandhu Tunnel Project Toll Manager Md Belayet Hossain confirmed the information on Tuesday evening.
He said: “The tunnel was opened for traffic on October 29 at 6am and in the one month since, 170,782 vehicles have passed through it, generating Tk4,02,02,850.”
He also said that the daily traffic through the tunnel is increasing, with up to 10,000 vehicles crossing on weekends, whereas around 4,000 to 5,000 vehicles cross on other days.
Project officials said that the daily target for vehicular movement through the tunnel is 17,000 vehicles, though this number has not been reached on any day in the past month. The initial cost for the tunnel construction was estimated at Tk8,446.64 crore, which later increased to Tk10,374.42 crore. China's Exim Bank provided a loan of Tk5,913.19 crore at 2% interest, with the remaining amount funded by the Government of Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the country's first tunnel in Chittagong's Patenga on October 28. Following the inauguration, she participated in a public meeting in Anwara crossing and paid a toll of Tk200 for her vehicle and Tk4,000 for 20 vehicles in her convoy.
The toll rates for different vehicles are as follows private cars and pickups Tk200, microbuses Tk250, buses (up to 31 seats) Tk300, buses (more than 32 seats) Tk400, three-axle buses Tk500, trucks (up to 5 tons) Tk400, trucks (5.01 to 8 tons) Tk500, trucks (8.01 to 11 tons) Tk600, three-axle trucks and trailers Tk800, and four-axle trucks and trailers Tk1,000.
The toll-collection process is completed within 30 seconds. There are 12 toll booths, and currently, tolls are collected manually.
