Padma Bridge tolls fixed

The government has officially finalised the toll rate for different types of vehicles crossing the much-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge, which is likely to be inaugurated in June.

The Bridges Division under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a gazette notification on Tuesday in this regard.

According to the notification, Tk 100 toll has been fixed for bikes; Tk 750 for cars and jeeps; Tk 1,200 for pickup trucks and luxury jeeps; Tk 1,300 for microbuses; Tk 1,400 for 31-seat buses; Tk 2,000 for 32-seat buses; Tk 2,400 for big buses; Tk 1,600 for trucks (up to 5 tons); Tk 2,100 for trucks (5-8 tons);  Tk 2,800 for trucks (8-11 tons); Tk 5,500 for big trucks (three axles); Tk 6,000 for trailers (four axles); and Tk 6,000 plus for trailers (more than four axles).

Number of vehicles to pass through

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently completed a study to determine the number of vehicles crossing the Padma Bridge each day following its inauguration.

According to the study, 24,000 vehicles would pass through the bridge every day in 2022, including 8,238 buses, 10,244 trucks, and 5,000 microbuses and cars.

This means that in 2020, as per the government schedule, daily tolls for microbuses and cars will be Tk 65,00,000, buses will be Tk 1,97,71,200, and trucks will be Tk 5,63,42,000.

ADB also predicted that by 2025, there will be 27,800 vehicles crossing the Padma Bridge every day and by 2040, the bridge will be used by 51,807 vehicles per day.

The study also predicted that the number would rise each year. Around 67,000 vehicles per day could cross the bridge in 2050.

Scheduled to open in June

Bangladesh’s longest bridge, connecting Dhaka to 21 southern districts, is expected to open to traffic in June.

On May 11, Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said preparations are going on for its opening. 

The minister said the work progress of the main bridge is 98 per cent, while river training is 92 per cent and the progress of carpeting work is 91 per cent.

About the mega structure

The Padma Bridge became visible on September 30, 2017, with the installation of the first span on pillars 37 and 38. After 38 months, the work of installing all the spans was completed.

The bridge’s toll plaza, connecting road, and other structures have fallen in Shibchar of Madaripur, as they involve three districts.

The bridge’s length on the river body is 6.15km, being joined with 41 spans – each 150 metres long – on 42 pillars.

There will be 2,917 roadway slabs for road transport and 2,959 railway slabs for trains. Of these, 1,239 road slabs and 1,860 railway slabs have been installed as of November 30.

In 2007, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the Padma Bridge construction project at a cost of Tk 10,162 crore.

The bridge was earlier slated to be commissioned by 2013. Later, the project expenditure was revised thrice to Tk 20,507 crore in 2011, Tk 28,793 crore in 2016, and Tk 30,193 crore in 2018.