Padma Bridge to be opened to traffic from Sunday morning

GBNews24 Desk//

Padma Bridge, connecting the capital Dhaka with 21 south-western districts of the country, is going to be opened for traffic on Sunday morning.

According to experts, the opening of Padma Bridge is likely to bring massive changes to the lives and livelihoods of some six crore people of the country’s southern region.

They laid strong emphasis on proper operation and maintenance of the bridge.

The Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has taken all-out preparations to allow movement of traffic over the Padma Bridge from 6:00am on Sunday, said project director Md Shafiqul Islam.

After opening of Padma Bridge on Saturday morning, Shafiqul Islam told journalists that no vehicles would ply over the bridge today (Saturday). “It would be opened to traffic from 6:00am on Sunday.”

Through the 6.15km long Padma Bridge, direct connection between the capital Dhaka and south south-western regions have been established. The motor vehicles including buses plying between the capital Dhaka and 21 south-western districts have so far used ferries to cross the river Padma from Mawa. Almost all of those will now cross the river using the Padma Bridge.

Meanwhile, the BBA officials concerned said there will be a substantial pressure of motor vehicles on Sunday owing to significant interest about the Padma Bridge among people.

Contacted, Padma Bridge project director Shafiqul Islam said, “We are anticipating that there will be substantial pressure of vehicles on the first day of movement of vehicles. We have trained our toll plaza employees accordingly. We hope that they will be able to avert the rush of vehicles. Besides, all preparations have been taken for the maintenance and security of the bridge.”

Earlier on Saturday morning, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina crossed the Padma Bridge paying toll by herself soon after opening it.

The head of the government paid Tk 16,400 as toll for all the cars in her motorcade including Tk 750 for her own car.