Padma Bridge: Three years of operation, over 2,500C collected in tolls

In three years, 19,471,692 vehicles have crossed the Padma Bridge
In the three years since the Padma Bridge opened to traffic, a total of Tk2,500 crore has been collected in tolls as of Thursday, reflecting the project’s significant impact on connectivity and economic activity in southern Bangladesh.

Since its inauguration for vehicular movement on June 26, 2022, uninterrupted traffic has continued on the bridge.

In these three years, the authorities have collected a total of Tk2,504.67 crore in tolls from 19,471,692 vehicles crossing the bridge, according to Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) Executive Engineer Abu Saad.

He highlighted the achievement, saying: “For three consecutive years, traffic has moved uninterrupted across the bridge without any hassle. This is a major milestone.”

According to Saad, in the first year, 5,694,899 vehicles crossed the bridge, generating Tk798.61 crore in tolls; in the second year, 6,801,374 vehicles contributed Tk850.44 crore in tolls; and in the third year, up to midnight on Wednesday, 6,995,229 vehicles crossed the bridge, generating Tk861.22 crore in tolls.

In three years of operation, 19,471,692 vehicles have crossed the Padma Bridge — 9,671,112 vehicles entered from the Mawa end, while 9,800,580 vehicles entered from the Jajira end, meaning that 129,468 more vehicles crossed from the Jajira side.

BBA Director (Administration) Altaf Hossain Sheikh said: “This infrastructure not only benefits people but also generates significant revenue. We are working to make toll collection even more seamless, with plans to introduce an automated system enabling toll payments while in motion.”

Altaf shared that a record-breaking Tk5.43 crore in tolls was collected on June 5, when 52,487 vehicles crossed the bridge, the highest toll collection and traffic volume recorded in a single day so far.

Previously, the highest single-day traffic volume was recorded on June 26, 2022, the first day of operation, when 51,316 vehicles used the bridge.

The previous highest single-day toll collection occurred on April 9, 2024, ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr, amounting to Tk4.89 crore.

Dhaka Tribune

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