Government authorities plan to ban motorcycles from plying the expressway (Jatirpita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Mahasarak) on both sides of the Padma Bridge to avert accidents as they become wise after several chaotic incidents of bike riding.
However, sources say, the Roads and Highways Department (RHD) would allow bikers to use service roads along the expressway linking the Padma Multipurpose Bridge from the two sides.
To this effect, tolls for bikers were fixed in a circular issued by Road Transport and Highways Division Wednesday.
The RHD is set to bring the total 55-kilomer expressway under a uniform toll system from Friday, with a foreign company maintaining the expressway and collecting tolls.
At present the RHD separately collects tolls for three bridges which are located between Dhaka and Bhanga based on an interim rate of Tk 10 per km, fixed in February 2021.
However, Wednesday's circular re-fixed the same rates without any revision.
Chief Engineer AKM Manir Hossain, during a contract signing at Sarak Bhaban on the day, said a proposal in connection with banning motorcycles on the expressway has been under discussion as its number and unruly driving are likely to make the expressway vulnerable.
But, he said, motorcycles can use the service roads built on both sides of the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga expressway to cross the 55km road.
"We are proposing in this regard and it is under discussion with all stakeholders, just as the government bans the plying of nosimon korimon-like vehicles on highways," said the Chief Engineer.
The RTHD fixes toll at Tk 1690 for trailers, Tk 1100 for heavy truck, Tk 550 for medium truck, Tk 495 for big bus, Tk 415 for mini-truck, Tk 275 for minibus and coaster, Tk 220 for microbus and four-wheeler vehicles, Tk 140 private cars and motorcycle Tk 30.
The rates will be applicable to using entire 55km expressway but the charges will be less if they take exit and entry in-between two other toll plazas set at Mawa and Panchor apart from Dhaka and Bhanga.
The Pachaor-Bhanga stretch is 20km and Dhaka-Mawa stretch is 35km but in-between Padma Bridge area is 20 km.
Meanwhile, the Roads and Highways Department Wednesday signed contract with a Korean company to carry toll operation and maintenance of the country's first expressway from Dhaka to Bhanga through Mawa from Friday, amid challenges of handling heavy traffic of Eid-ul-Azha holiday within a week.
Korean Expressway Corporation in association of S-Traffic Co Ltd and Tele Tell Communication was awarded the work at Tk 7.17 billion for next five years. With this, RHD has given operation and management of its road network to an international company for maintaining standard.
According to the deal, KEC will be responsible to install ITS (Intelligent Transport System), operation and maintenance, toll-collection system for operation and maintenance of 55-kilometre expressway with traffic management and safety operation.
The contract-signing ceremony was held at the RHD Chief Engineer's conference room where Additional Chief Engineer Sobuj Uddin Khan and KEC Managing Director Lee Teakki inked the deal.
Chief Engineer AKM Manir Hossain Pathan, who witnessed the signing, alerted the Korean company of the situation ahead for them shortly after their job starts due to increase in traffic on the occasion of Eid holiday.
However, replying to questions in this regard from journalists, the Chief Engineer said the company has been on the field before the contract signing as the RHD has provided all initial infrastructures, like toll plazas, computers facilities etc, to start the work efficiently shortly after the signing. He said, "KEC has been operating and maintaining 4000km expressway in Korea and RHD teams have found their work admirable during the visit to the country."
The Chief Engineer, however, admitted that operating and maintaining the expressway would be challenging due to cultural difference as the country's drivers are not habituated to driving on expressway.
Replying to another question on expected long tailback due to setting four toll plazas within 55km expressway for toll collection, Mr Pathan said, "Initially some problems may arise but it will be over after the ITS installation work completes."
He said like Padma Bridge, O and M activity in the RHD will be carried semi automatic under a same software but completion of the ITS installation work will resolve the problems.
However, the RHD introduces the tolls on the Dhaka-Mawa-Bhanga expressway, officially named 'Jatirpita Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Expressway', keeping four exit and entry points at Bhanga, Pachhor, Mawa and Dhaka. The travelers on the road will have to stop at the toll plazas twice to pay their payable amount.
smunima@yahoo.com