No toll collection at 3 bridges on June 25

Collection of tolls from three bridges over the Buriganga, the Dhaleshwari and the Arial Khan rivers will remain suspended on June 25 to facilitate easy transportation to the inaugural ceremony of the Padma Bridge.

Toll and Excel Section of Road Transport and Highways Division on Monday sent a letter to the authorities concerned to take necessary steps in this regard.

The letter mentioned that the transport of guests invited to the inaugural ceremony and the presence of common people will increase pressure on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Highway on the day. The three bridges are on this highway heading towards the Padma Bridge from Dhaka.

The letter also cited that tolls are collected at these three bridges manually and it would possibly create tailbacks on the day.

Considering the situation, the cabinet secretary verbally requested the division to keep toll collection suspended for June 25.

However, the daily toll collection from the three bridges is Tk 8,39,681. Daily toll collection from the Buriganga Bridge 1 is around Tk 1,99,146, from Dhaleswari Bridge is Tk 5,78,191 and from Arial Khan Bridge is Tk 62,344.

The Padma Bridge will be open to traffic on June 26, a day after the grand inaugural. It will herald a groundbreaking change in the country’s road communication.

Engineers and workers are working round the clock giving the final touches to the country’s largest infrastructure project that will greatly shorten the travel time between the 21 southwestern districts and the capital Dhaka.

The 6.15 km long bridge is also expected to boost trade and commerce with Bangladesh’s entire southwestern region. According to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, about 3,500 people will be invited to the inaugural ceremony of Padma Bridge.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will inaugurate Padma Bridge at 10:00am on the day at the Mawa end of the bridge. Her motorcade will cross the four-lane bridge paying the first toll.