The much-awaited Padma bridge connecting India-Bangladesh was opened for traffic from 6 am on Sunday. Long queues of hundreds of vehicles were seen on the first day to cross this bridge.
A total of 14 booths have been set up on this bridge for toll collection. To cross this bridge, a motorcycle will have to pay Taka 100 (Bangladesh currency), while a bus will pay Taka 2,400 and a medium-sized truck will pay Taka 2,800. Taka 1,600 for mini trucks up to five tonnes, Taka 2,100 for vehicles up to eight tonnes, 5,500 for three axle trucks and 6,000 for four axle trailers. For each axle exceeding four axles, a toll of Taka 1,500 will be paid.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday afternoon unveiled the plaque of the 6.15-km-long Padma bridge, built at the end of Mawa in Munshiganj, in a colorful program. The Padma River is the main stream of the Ganges River in Bangladesh. It is a bridge-rail and road project on the Padma River. $3.6 billion has been spent to complete the project. This route can give a new dimension to the trade relations between India and Bangladesh. With the opening of this bridge, the distance from Dhaka to Kolkata will be reduced by about three hours.
Not only this, through the neighboring country's Mongla Port, Padma Bridge will enable India to reach its northeastern states faster. Till now the only way to cross the Padma river was by boat, which took six to eight hours to go from one side to the other. Crossing the overflowing Padma river in the rain was tantamount to feasting on death.