The government earned a record Tk 49 million in revenue through toll from the vehicles that crossed the Padma Bridge in 24 hours till 12:00 am on April 10 (Tuesday).
“A total of Tk 49,067,050 toll was collected from 12:00 Monday to 12:00 am Tuesday from 45,204 vehicles that crossed the bridge during the period.
“It is the highest amount collected so far in the 24-hour period,” said Amirul Haidar Chowdhury, Additional Director of Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA).
Earlier on 27 June, a record Tk 46 million toll was collected from around 43,137 vehicles that crossed the bridge.
So far, the BBA has collected over Tk 14.54 billion toll from 18 million vehicles that crossed the bridge till Tuesday. According to sources, on Tuesday, 30,330 vehicles crossed the Bridge from the Maoa side and 24,874 vehicles crossed from the Jajira side. From those vehicles, a total of cash Tk 48,994,700 was realised as toll from the private vehicles while Tk 70, 850 more tolls remained unrealised (dues) from the government vehicles and Tk 1,500 has been realised through the ETS system from the running vehicles.
Padma Bridge authority has termed this as the highest amount of toll realised in a single day.
Amirul Haider Chowdhury, Additional Director of Padma Bridge Authority informed, earlier on June 27, 2023, the highest record of toll collection was Tk 46,053,300 from 43,137 vehicles while on July 8, 2022, the highest record of toll collection was Tk 41,939,650 from 31,723 vehicles.
It is learnt, on June 25, 2022, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Padma Bridge and the next day on June 26, the bridge was opened for vehicular movement. On that day a total of 51,316 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge which is the highest record so far for transporting vehicles through the bridge.
Since the inauguration of the Padma Bridge, the movement of vehicles over the bridge has not been stopped even for a minute. People from 21 South-Western districts are not moving through the bridge hassle-free. So far Taka 14,531,412,800 has been realised as toll from the vehicles crossing the bridge. A total of 10,855,662 vehicles have crossed through the bridge.