The Padma Bridge authorities have collected more than Tk24 crore in tolls from vehicles crossing the bridge in the 11 days since the bridge was opened to traffic.
A total of 220,623 vehicles used the bridge during the period, paying Tk24,23,67,800 in tolls.
The toll plaza at the Mawa point collected Tk12,48,01,750 from 110,812 vehicles, while the one at the Zajira point collected Tk12,18,86,050 from 109,811 vehicles.
With palpable excitement surrounding the opening of the bridge, users paid a staggering Tk2,09,31,550 on the very first day, on June 26.
Following a fatal motorcycle accident on the bridge on the same day, the authorities banned motorcycles from using it, resulting in the daily toll collection taking a slight tumble.
But despite that, the bridge saw more than Tk3.16 crore in toll collection on July 1 – still the highest daily collection.
The daily toll collection dipped to Tk1.91 crore on July 3, but saw a big jump again to Tk2.42 crore on July 6.
Bridges Division Supervising Engineer Abul Hossain told Dhaka Tribune that the number of vehicles using the bridge varied every day, resulting in the fluctuation in toll collection.
Traffic movement was smooth on either side of the bridge right now, he added.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the 6.15-km bridge with great fanfare on June 25.
It marked an important milestone in Bangladesh’s history, as it is a symbol not just of Bangladesh’s tenacity but of its growing economic prowess and development.