Travelers heading to the southern and southwestern districts of Bangladesh are reporting hassle-free journeys, largely credited to enhanced toll plaza management and a coordinated law enforcement presence along the 55-kilometer expressway.
According to data provided by the Padma Bridge site office, a total of 44,008 vehicles crossed the mega-structure in a 24-hour window from late Monday to early Tuesday, generating Tk4.80 crore in toll revenue.
The traffic and revenue breakdown between the two terminals highlights heavy outflow from the capital:
- Mawa End (outbound): 28,415 vehicles crossed, yielding Tk2.64 crore in tolls
- Jazira End (inbound): 15,593 vehicles crossed, yielding Tk2.16 crore in tolls
To manage the heavy holiday pressure, the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has initiated a 45-day special traffic management program, which includes boosting processing capacity at the Mawa Toll Plaza.
Toll operations are currently running across 10 dedicated lanes—including three distinct lanes optimized for motorcycles.
"The efficiency has scaled up significantly," said Altaf Hossain Sheikh, BBA director and additional secretary. "Currently, we are processing 10 vehicles every 3 seconds."
A primary catalyst for the fluid traffic flow is a newly constructed, dedicated "bus bay" situated in front of the Padma Bridge North Police Station.
Capable of staging 10 to 15 buses simultaneously, the bay prevents chaotic queuing and keeps the immediate approaches to the toll gates clear.
On-ground security and safety measures have also been amplified, with high-alert deployments from the Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Bangladesh Police, and the Fire Service and Civil Defence conducting regular patrols along the expressway.
While heavy volumes of passenger buses, private cars, and freight trucks have been recorded since Tuesday morning, traffic has remained entirely mobile.
Commuters expressed immense satisfaction, noting that the traditionally agonizing wait times at the ferry terminals of the past—and the toll plazas of recent years—have successfully been eliminated.