CHATTOGRAM, Apr 22: Chattogram's Mohiuddin Chowdhury Elevated Expressway will have a toll system for vehicles, according to officials, as the Chattogram Development Authority plans to open a patch of the country's longest overhead expressway soon.
While the partial opening was initially targeted for April, the construction of two temporary toll plazas has pushed back the timeline.
"After the construction of the two toll plazas, we will launch the expressway section from Tigerpass to Patenga," said Mahfuzur Rahman, project director and an executive engineer of CDA.
He said the CDA has already proposed toll rates to the ministry. The expressway's opening depends on the ministry's finalisation of the fees.
Toll collection will vary based on entry and exit points along the expressway. The full tolling system will be implemented upon completion of all ramps, which are currently under construction.
A new ramp alignment at Tigerpass has been approved to safeguard the double-decker road and trees.
The CDA has finalised the construction of the main 16.5 km expressway infrastructure from Lalkhan Bazar to Patenga, with the total project cost reaching Tk 4,298 crore.
To facilitate entry and exit, fifteen ramps will be built at key points throughout the city. The expressway's total length, including ramps, will be 24 km.
Currently, additional works like lighting, CCTV installation, and retaining walls are ongoing.
Initially, toll collection will be limited to the Lalkhan Bazar/Tigerpass to Patenga route. Once all ramps are complete, tolling will be implemented at six designated points along the expressway, with rates varying based on distance travelled and vehicle type.
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