Bangladesh: Over 15,000 vehicles cross Padma Bridge in 8hrs

Bangladesh desk:  A total of 15,202 vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge from Mawa and Janjira points on the routes between Dhaka and 21 south and south-western districts in the first eight hours after its opening for traffic on Sunday.

Among the vehicles that crossed the bridge from Mawa point, around 60 per cent or 4,966 ones were motorcycles, said Bangladesh Bridge Authority executive engineer Tofazzal Hossain.

He said that they had collected Tk 82,19,250 as tolls from these vehicles between 6:00am and 2:00pm.

Tofazzal said that 8,440 vehicles crossed the bridge from Mawa point during this time and Tk 46,89,750 was collected as tolls.

During the same time, 6,762 vehicles crossed the bridge from Janjira point and Tk 35,29,500 was collected as tolls, he said.

The Padma Bridge was opened for vehicular movement from Sunday 6:00am.

People went to and crossed the bridges on buses, cars and motorcycles in a festive mood on the first day of vehicular movement on the bridge.