Meghna-Gumti bridge reopens, toll collection continues

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Normal traffic movement over the Meghna-Gumti bridge started Tuesday afternoon after nearly 40 days of repair works easing transportation of passengers and cargoes on the Dhaka- Chittagong highway.

Sanaul Hoque, executive engineer of Roads and Highway department said the bridge has been opened from 3:00 pm: "We completed the repair works four days ahead of the estimated time."

But, bus operators continued to charge additional Tk 50 and Tk 100 for each ticket despite the bridge being operational.

Bus operators started charging additional fares between Tk 50 and Tk 100 on each ticket as they used to take alternate routes to Chittagong from the capital that was around 100 kilometres of extra journey time .

Non-air-conditioned buses have been charging Tk 300, up by Tk 50 each ticket following repair works of the bridge as they travel to Chittagong through alternative routes through Brahamanbaria.

Officials at the air-conditioned bus services said they are yet to decide whether to charge the previous fare or not following re-opening of the bridge.

Air-conditioned buses have been charging additional Tk 100 each ticket since the repair works of the bridge started.

One official at Silk Line, at Arambagh, told the FE that it's management will sit Tuesday night to discuss the issue.

The repair work of the bridge started in mid May and the repair was necessitated as a number of cracks developed in the bridge, built nearly 14 years ago.

The repair work has been completed at a cost of Tk 350 million.

Transportation of export and import cargoes faced unusual delays to and from the capital as the all-important bridge was undergoing repair works.

The Dhaka-Chittagong highway is treated as the country's economic lifeline as export and import goods laden trucks move on this highway.