In 2024, the Padma Bridge brought in the highest toll of Taka 838.56 crore for the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).
Abu Saad Niloy, the Padma Multipurpose Bridge’s executive engineer, informed BSS that 67,36,478 cars paid the toll.
According to him, since the 6.15-kilometer bridge opened to traffic on June 25, 2022, BBA has made a total of Taka 2,061.97 crore from 1,58,08,968 vehicles.
In ten installments, BBA has so far paid the Finance Division Taka 1,577.16 crore to repay the government loan used to build the massive project.
The Bridges Division on April 5, 2023 began repaying the loan that it had taken as credit for the Padma Bridge construction from the revenue.
“We usually pay four installments per financial year to the government and Taka 157.71 crore is given in every installment.
On June 14, 2024, a record 44,033 cars crossed the bridge, resulting in the greatest toll collection in a single day of Taka 4.80 crore, according to the BBA.
At a total cost of Taka 30,193 crore, the government constructed the Padma Bridge using its own funds after the World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions withdrew their funding.
The government granted Taka 300 crore of the total, with the remaining Taka 29,893 crore being credited to BBA at a one percent interest rate.
As per that agreement with the Finance Division on 29 August 2019, BBA will repay the loan in 35 years in 140 installments.
According to the payment schedule, minimum Taka 634 crore to maximum Taka 1,475 crore should be paid every fiscal.
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