CHATTOGRAM: The Chattogram Development Authority (CDA) is going to impose toll on Bayezid Link Road which is now open to traffic, though with the work yet to be completed.
Sources said CDA constructed the road without obtaining environmental clearance from the Department of Environment (DoE).
Vehicles will have to pay toll to use the road constructed under a project taken up in 1997.
As the cost of construction of the road and culverts on it has been increased, the CDA has submitted the Detail Project Plan (DPP) to the ministry for collecting tolls from vehicles using the road.
According to the DPP, the motorcycle will have to pay Tk10, three-wheeler Tk 15, car, jeep and microbus Tk 50, pickup and minibus Tk 80, four- wheeler truck Tk120 while six-wheeler bus and truck and covered van will have to pay Tk 150 for plying the road.
Once the DPP is approved by the government, Bayezid Link Road will be the first toll road in Chattogram.
Chief Engineer of CDA Kaji Hasan Bin Shams said, "Bayezid Link Road Project is yet to have some additional works like construction of the bridge, hill management etc requiring increasing the cost further. But the finance ministry is not allocating additional fund for the project. The ministry asked to complete the project by using own fund of the CDA."
"Moreover, we need additional money for maintenance of the road. But, the CDA has not adequate fund for the project. So, we sent DPP with the decision of collecting toll from vehicles using the road."
"Bayezid Link Road will be the first ever toll road in Chattogram," he added.
Experts observed that the road, which has become a tourist attraction for its scenic beauty, will bring pace in movement of vehicles from south Chattogram and some areas of the north side of the district.
The road built linking two parts of Chattogram, Faujdarhat and Bayezid Bostami, through the hills, is considered to be one of the most stunning roads in the port city for its scenic beauty on both sides.
Driving through the road must be a thrill to anyone while the eye-catching beauty of green steep hills is bound to soothe one's sight.
On the other hand, up and down slopes are also there to offer the feeling of a seesaw or rollercoaster which adds more spice to driving on the road.
The scenic beauty of the road is so dazzling that one can't help stopping the car and capturing the splendour of the cutaway hills in his or her camera.
There are also a number of restaurants on both sides of the road ready to offer a visitor spicy food and a hot cup of tea or coffee.
