Govt Misses Revenue as Expressway Toll System Delayed

Inaugurated on 14 November 2023, the project was designed to alleviate congestion and expedite travel between key city areas, including the Chattogram Port and Shah Amanat International Airport. However, the authorities failed to complete crucial entry and exit ramps in time for the opening, and the lack of a functioning toll collection system has resulted in no income from the project in its first year.

Originally slated for partial opening, the expressway faced delays due to the absence of essential security features, such as CCTV cameras and proper lighting. Traffic was restricted, and the expressway only opened for limited use in August 2024, nine months after the inauguration. Since then, vehicles have used the infrastructure for free, undermining its intended financial sustainability.

The expressway provides access from areas like Patenga, Bahoddarhat, Sholoshahar Gate 2, and Lalkhan Bazar, with entry points designed to handle up to 229,000 vehicles daily by 2049. A 2015 feasibility study projected that, by 2024, the expressway would accommodate over 77,000 vehicles, including cars, minibuses, trucks, and motorcycles. Civil society advocates have expressed disappointment that the toll system wasn’t implemented sooner, especially as traffic around the airport and Patenga could have been generating revenue.

The delay in toll collection has been attributed to bureaucratic inefficiency, lack of accountability, and apparent negligence in following through on key proposals. Sources within the Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) revealed that the toll rates were discussed multiple times in 2024, but no final government order was issued to implement the system. Meetings held in February and September focused on distance-based tolls, with some stakeholders suggesting lower rates for motorcycles and CNG-run auto-rickshaws. However, progress was stalled due to disagreements over tariff structure and delays in issuing the necessary orders.

The CDA has already set up toll plazas at the Patenga entry and exit points, but toll collection cannot begin without formal approval. CDA Project Director Mahfuzur Rahman confirmed that work on five out of 14 planned ramps is ongoing and is expected to be completed by June 2025, further delaying the project's full functionality.

Local critics, including Sacheton Nagorik Committee President Advocate Akhtar Kabir Chowdhury, have harshly criticized the project for its design changes, cost overruns, and missed deadlines. "The project has been plagued by mismanagement, resulting in avoidable delays and missed opportunities for revenue generation," said Chowdhury. "The failure to implement a toll system just one year after the inauguration is a glaring example of the lack of accountability and transparency."

Originally approved with a budget of Tk3,250 crore, the project's cost was later revised to Tk4,298 crore. The initial deadline for completion was set for June 2024, but it has since been extended to June 2025.

Despite these setbacks, the expressway remains a vital part of the city’s infrastructure, with the promise of cutting travel time between the city center and the airport to just 15 minutes. However, unless the toll system is implemented soon, the government will continue to miss out on crucial revenue from this megaproject.