In line with the prime minister’s instruction, the process of tolling national highways has begun. Initially, users of four national highways will have to pay the toll.
The government will collect toll on the Dhaka-Chattogram, Dhaka-Sylhet, Dhaka-Khulna and Dhaka-Rangpur highways, according to sources.
The phased scheme will start with the four-lane highways. Gradually larger roads with six and eight lanes will be covered. Field level work will start once details like the amount of toll and the method of collection are sorted out.
On Sept 3, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina instructed government agencies to toll national highways to raise funds for roadworks.
Her instructions came at a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council.
“The prime minister’s directive will be implemented shortly. The RHD chief engineer has already started to work on the matter,” Secretary to the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry Md. Nazrul Islam told Bangla Tribune.
A committee could be formed in this connection, he said. “A team led by the chief engineer has started to work on it. The committee could be set up after the team files a draft plan.”
The RHD plans to involve local elected representatives in the process.
“Roads which fall within the remit of the Local Government Division are connected to the national highways. Once a toll is imposed, there will be alternative roads for local vehicles, for which, the involvement of elected representatives will be needed,” an RHD additional engineer said.
As for smaller local road-using vehicles playing beside the national highways, Planning Minister MA Mannan said, “All steps will be taken to implement the prime minister’s directive. Plans for new national highways include provisions of local roads.”
About the rate of the proposed tolls, he said it would be fixed after finalizing other details.
Speaking to Bangla Tribune, RHD Chief Engineer EbneAlam Hasan said, “The process has just started.”
Almost21,595 km of roads and highways fall within the remit of the Roads and Highways Division (RHD), of which, national highways make up 3,906 km.
At present, tolls are charged at different rates for different types of vehicles on various bridges and flyovers across Bangladesh, while highways are exempt.