By Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo

Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA) has earned highest toll of Taka 838.56 crore from Padma Bridge in 2024.

Executive Engineer of Padma Multipurpose Bridge Abu Saad Niloy told BSS that the toll was collected from 67,36,478 vehicles.

Since opening of the 6.15-km bridge for traffic on June 25, 2022, BBA earned total Taka 2,061.97 crore from 1,58,08,968 vehicles, he said.

BBA has so far paid Taka 1,577.16 crore in 10 installments to the Finance Division for repayment of the loan given by the government for construction of the mega 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.

According to the BBA, highest toll collection in a single day was Taka 4.80 crore on June 14, 2024 when record number of 44,033 vehicles crossed the bridge.

In the backdrop of withdrawal of the World Bank and other multilateral financial institutions from financing, the government has built the Padma Bridge with its own resources at a total cost of Taka 30,193 crore.

Out of that money, the government provided a grant of Taka 300 crore while remaining Taka 29,893 crore was given as credit at one percent interest rate to BBA.

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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