Tk4.25cr toll collected from Padma Bridge in 24 hours as Eid journey of home goers remain smooth

Around Tk4.25 crore was collected as tolls from Padma Bridge's Mawa and Zajira points yesterday ahead of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration (28 March).

The toll was collected from a total of 39,437 vehicles at both points of the bridge from 12am yesterday to 12am today (29 March), confirmed Executive Engineer Abu Saeed of the bridge's site office at 8am this morning.

Among the vehicles, a total of 9,852 were motorcycles, said Saeed.

"In the last 24 hours, 26,057 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge at the Mawa point, while 13,580 vehicles crossed at the Zajira point," Saeed added.

The official added that the Mawa point of the Padma Bridge did not experience any significant traffic congestion due to the Eid vacation.

As a result, vehicles going to the southern districts from the capital cross the bridge without any hassle, Saeed said.

Although the pressure of long haul vehicles increased on the Dhaka-Mawa Expressway since yesterday morning as people started to head out for their destinations due to the beginning of the Eid-ul-Fitr holiday, it decreased by this morning as most people have already reached their destinations.

People of 21 southern districts are travelling to their homes through the expressway on buses, cars and motorcycles.

Although there is extra pressure of vehicles on this highway, there is no traffic congestion or hassle along the way, said homebound people.

Visiting the area, this correspondent found that vehicles were crossing the Padma Bridge quickly after paying tolls at the Mawa point of the bridge.

Meanwhile, many people were seen crossing the Padma Bridge on motorcycles since this morning.

Although there are some risks with two-wheelers, a large number of people have found comfort in going to their destinations on them.

Contacted, Abu Saeed, executive engineer of the site office of Padma Bridge, said, "Eid journey is hassle-free this year. A total of seven toll booths have been kept operational to collect tolls from vehicles quickly."

Meanwhile, no traffic congestion was found on the 13km stretch on the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway at Munshiganj's Gazaria upazila, our correspondent reported.