<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The government earned Tk 82.19 lakh in revenue through collecting tolls from vehicles crossing the Padma Bridge from 6am to 2pm on Sunday, as the long-awaited bridge became officially operational for the first time.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the bridge on Saturday and it was opened to traffic on Sunday morning.</div><div><br></div><div>“Tolls worth Tk 82.19 lakh have been collected till 2pm today (Sunday),” Bangladesh Bridges Authority (BBA) Superintendent Engineer Abul Hossain told UNB.&nbsp;&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>He said around 15,200 vehicles crossed the bridge during the same period.</div><div><br></div><div>The government expects that Padma Bridge's construction cost will be recovered in the next 35 years, according to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).</div><div><br></div><div>The finance ministry provided BBA an amount of Tk 30,000 crore as credit, which will be repaid with one per cent interest rate in 35 years.</div><div><br></div><div>Meanwhile, the government announced that stopping vehicles, walking and taking pictures on the Padma Bridge are completely prohibited and punishable offenses.</div><div><br></div><div>The cabinet urged the public to be vigilant in complying with the ban today.</div><div><br></div><div>The government also requested all to pay tolls while crossing the bridge.</div><div><br></div><div>The government on May 17 finalised the toll rate for different types of vehicles for crossing the Padma Multipurpose Bridge. The Bridges Division under the Road Transport and Bridges Ministry issued a gazette notification in this regard.</div><div><br></div><div>According to the government decision, Tk 100 toll has been fixed for motorbike, Tk 750 for private car and jeep, Tk 1200 from pick-up, Tk 1300 for microbus, Tk 1400 for small bus (with 31 seats), Tk 2000 for middle bus (with 32 seats), Tk 2400 for big size bus, Tk 1600 for small truck (5 tonnes), Tk 2100 for middle size truck (over 5 tonnes to 8 tonnes),&nbsp; Tk 2800 for middle size truck (over 8 tonnes to 11 tonnes), Tk 5500 for big truck (up to 3 excel) Tk 6000 for trailer truck (4 excel) and Tk 6,000 plus for trailer (over 4 excel).</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>