Govt raises Jamuna and Muktarpur bridges tolls

Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) in a gazette notification on Tuesday increased tolls on vehicles running on two major bridges – Bangabandhu Multipurpose Bridge (Jamuna Bridge) and Muktarpur Bridge.

BBA officials said tolls had been increased by 10 to 20 percent for private vehicles and 50 percent for trains.

According to the gazette, the revised tolls for the Bangabandhu Bridge are Tk 50 for motorcycles, Tk 550 for cars, Tk 600 for microbuses/pickup vans, Tk 750 for minibuses, Tk 1,000 for buses and trucks (up to five tonnes), Tk 1,250 for mid-sized trucks (up to eight tonnes), Tk 1,600 for trucks (up to 11 tonnes), Tk 2,000 for trucks (with three axles), Tk 3,000 for trailers (with four axles), and Tk 1,000 for each axle beyond four.

Besides, the revised tolls for the Muktarpur Bridge were set at Tk 10 for vans, Tk 30 for CNG-run autorickshaws, Tk 50 for cars, motorised three-wheelers, microbuses, and pickup trucks, Tk 150 for minibuses, Tk 200 for mini trucks, Tk 250 for buses and mid-sized trucks, Tk 600 for trucks (up to 11 tonnes), Tk 800 for trucks (with three axles), Tk 1,000 for trailers (with four axles), and an additional Tk 1,000 for each axle beyond four.

The revised tolls would take effect soon, said the gazette.

The Bangabandhu Bridge was constructed over the Jamuna River while the Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, popularly known as the Muktarpur Bridge, was built over the Dhaleshwari River.

Tolls for trains were raised from Tk 50 lakh to Tk 1 crore annually. 

BBA said the move was aimed at boosting government revenue to cover maintenance costs and repay loans.

In 2011, it set tolls for Bangabandhu Bridge at Tk 40 for motorcycles, Tk 500 for cars, jeeps, microbuses, and other small vehicles, Tk 650 for minibuses, Tk 900 for buses, Tk 850 for small trucks, Tk 1,100 for medium trucks, and Tk 1,400 for big trucks.

Also, in 2008, it fixed tolls for the Muktarpur Bridge at Tk 10 for vans, Tk 20 for CNG-run autorickshaws, Tk 40 for cars, motorised three-wheelers, microbuses, and pickup vans, Tk 100 for minibuses, Tk 150 for mini trucks, Tk 200 for buses and mid-sized trucks, and Tk 500 for trucks (up to 11 tonnes).

BBA officials said they had increased the tolls for the Padma Bridge construction as they would have to repay the construction cost to the Finance Division.

They said the tolls for the two bridges had been increased according to the toll policy 2015.

The 1.52km Muktarpur Bridge was completed in February 2008, linking Dhaka with Munshiganj.

On the other hand, the 4.8km Bangabandhu Bridge was inaugurated to the public in June 1998, connecting two sides of the Jamuna River through Tangail and Sirajganj.

The hike in tolls may increase transport fares, businessmen said.

BBA earlier attempted to increase the tolls twice, but to no avail.

When it put forward a revised toll proposal in November last year, the board did not endorse that considering the pandemic impacts.