Authority Opens Dhaka Elevated Expressway for All

The country's first elevated expressway or Elevated Expressway has started its operation. Today, on Sunday (September 3rd), transportation on the expressway from the airport to Farmgate has commenced at 6 AM.

Before this, yesterday on Saturday (September 2nd), Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the section from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Tejgaon of Elevated Expressway at 3 PM. Currently, the Elevated Expressway is operating only from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport to Farmgate. The distance covered by this section is 11.5 kilometers.

It is believed that when the remaining section from Tejgaon to Kutubkhali becomes operational next year, it will bring significant benefits. The entire view of Dhaka cityscape will change once the entire elevated road is operational.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority has stated that three-wheelers, bicycles, and pedestrians will not be allowed on the Elevated Expressway. Motorcycles will also not be allowed for now.

There are 15 ramps for getting onto this 11.5-kilometer elevated road. Out of these, 13 ramps are currently open, while Banani and Mohakhali ramps are not yet fully operational. Therefore, these two ramps are temporarily closed.

To use the elevated road, tolls must be paid. Toll rates have been categorized into four classes of vehicles as follows: the minimum toll for cars, taxis, jeeps, sports utility vehicles, microbuses (less than 16 seats), and light trucks (less than three tons) is set at 80 Bangladeshi Taka (BDT), for all types of buses (16 seats or more) it's 160 BDT, for medium trucks (up to six wheels) it's 320 BDT, and for large trucks (more than six wheels) it's 400 BDT.

According to the advertisement, toll fees have been determined as follows for four classes of vehicles: 80 BDT for cars, taxis, jeeps, sports utility vehicles, microbuses (less than 16 seats), and light trucks (less than three tons), 160 BDT for all types of buses (16 seats or more), 320 BDT for medium trucks (up to six wheels), and 400 BDT for large trucks (more than six wheels).