Eid-ul-Azha travel rush has pushed Padma Bridge to a new record for daily toll collection. In the last 24 hours, a total of 52,487 vehicles crossed the bridge, generating BDT 54.32 million in tolls—the highest in a single day since the bridge opened.

Previously, the record for the most vehicles in a day was set on June 26, 2022—the inauguration day—with 51,316 crossings. The highest single-day toll collection before this was BDT 48.99 million on April 9, 2024.

According to bridge authorities, 16,502 vehicles entered via the Janjira end, contributing BDT 22.68 million in tolls. The remaining 35,985 vehicles used the Mawa side, where BDT 31.64 million was collected.

Padma Bridge’s toll manager at Mawa point, Ahammadul Haque, confirmed the figures to Bonik Barta. He said a special monitoring cell has been formed to oversee vehicle flow and safety. A total of 133 CCTV cameras have been installed along a 15-kilometer stretch of the bridge to monitor traffic and overall conditions.

“There have been no reports of untoward incidents, which is very encouraging,” he added.

Altaf Hossain Sheikh, Joint Secretary and Director (Administration) of Bangladesh Bridge Authority, who is overseeing Padma Bridge operations, said the bridge is playing a vital role in ensuring smooth Eid travel for homebound passengers.