Govt considers toll cut to boost Karnaphuli Tunnel traffic

The government is considering reducing toll rates at the Karnaphuli Tunnel to encourage greater use by heavy and commercial vehicles, as traffic volumes remain below expectations since the tunnel opened in October 2023.

Bridge Division Secretary Abdur Rouf said the toll structure is being reviewed to make the tunnel more attractive to transport operators. He expressed optimism that traffic would increase as road connectivity improves and major infrastructure projects in the region become operational.

According to official data, the tunnel currently generates an average of Tk11.2 million in daily toll revenue, while operation and maintenance costs stand at about Tk22.9 million a day, leaving expenses nearly twice as high as income.

The government expects future projects, including the Chinese Economic and Industrial Zone in Anwara, the Korean EPZ and the Matarbari Deep Sea Port, to significantly increase the movement of trucks and container vehicles through the tunnel.

Experts, however, said lowering tolls alone will not be enough. They stressed the need for better road connectivity, lower logistics costs and improved transport infrastructure, including upgrading the Chattogram-Cox’s Bazar highway, to maximise the tunnel’s use.