Tens of thousands of vehicles cross Padma Bridge on first day

Tens of thousands of vehicles, mostly motorcycles, crossed the much-awaited Padma Multipurpose Bridge on Sunday, the first day of its opening to traffic.

Long queues of buses, trucks, cars and ambulances were seen waiting in front of the toll gates before the bridge opened at 6am. Vehicles had begun congregating at the Mawa point of the bridge since Saturday night to cross it at first chance.

Meanwhile, many people were seen breaking the rules imposed by the Bridge Division Authority for the security and protection of the Padma Bridge. The authorities earlier said people were not allowed to park their vehicles on the bridge to celebrate, take selfies or take a walk.

Many, however, crossed the bridge on foot, some got off their vehicles and motorcycles to take selfies and record videos, while law enforcers tried to bring the situation under control.

In the first eight hours – from 6am to 2pm – of opening the Padma Bridge to traffic, the bridge authority collected Tk82.19 lakh in toll. In the meantime, 15,200 vehicles crossed the bridge.

Bangladesh Bridges Authority Superintendent Engineer Abul Hossain said the tolls were accumulated from both entry points.

Meanwhile, two people were injured in a motorcycle accident on the Padma Bridge on Sunday night, said Munshiganj Additional Superintendent of Police Sumon Dev.

However, the names of the injured could not be known immediately.