Ctg Elevated Expressway to open next month

CHATTOGRAM, Dec 22: The 16.5-kilometer Chattogram Elevated Expressway, the longest freeway in the country, will formally be opened to traffic in January next.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Bridges has already approved the new toll rate proposed by the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA).

Talking to The FE, CDA Chairman Engineer Md Nurul Karim said that they are poised to inaugurate the elevated road. Toll plazas have been set up at the exit points, he added.

Project Director (PD) and Executive Engineer of CDA Mahfuzur Rahman said, "Construction of the expressway is over. The trial run of the 16.5-km long highway began in September. At present, private cars and microbuses are plying across it on a trial basis."

According to the newly-proposed toll rates, CNG-run auto-rickshaws will have to pay Tk20 to Tk30, cars Tk50 to Tk80, jeeps Tk70 to Tk100, microbuses Tk90 to Tk100, pickups Tk130 to Tk150, minibuses Tk180 to Tk200, buses Tk250 to Tk280, four-wheeled trucks Tk180 to Tk200, six-wheeled trucks Tk300, covered vans Tk450, and trailers Tk450.

The Tk42.98 billion project was scheduled to be completed in 2022, but the CDA sent a letter to extend time until 2024 and raise the expenditure by Tk12 billion. Some ramps of the expressway, however, are under construction, which are scheduled to be completed by June in 2025.

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