Dhaka Elevated Expressway: Tk 5.25 Mn Toll Collected in 59 Hrs

A total of 64,751 motor vehicles used the Dhaka Elevated Expressway, from Kawla to Farmgate, and paid over Tk 5.25 million as tolls during 59 hours.

The Dhaka Elevated Expressway was opened for the public to ease traffic congestion in the capital. The traffic movement through the expressway started at 6 a.m. on September 3, the 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 Kawla, near Hazrat Shahjalal International 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 kilometers per hour.

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

Under Category 1, the toll rate for cars, taxis, jeeps, sports utility vehicles, microbuses (under 16 seats), and light trucks (under 3 tons) is Taka 80.

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

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