Motorcycle ban on Padma Bridge may impact toll collection

The authority has banned motorcycles from plying on the newly opened Padma Bridge to avoid massive traffic on the bridge, a senior official of the Bridges Division has said.

“The decision to prohibit motorcycles on the bridge was taken on an experimental basis. Let’s see what impact creates on toll collection,” Rashidul Hassan, joint secretary (Admin) of Bridges Division, told the Business Insider Bangladesh on Monday noon.

Meanwhile, the government earned Tk 2.09 crore revenue from the vehicles crossed the Padma Bridge from 6am to 12am on Sunday.

Responding to a query, he said motorcyclists are creating huge traffic jams on the bridge and unfortunately two riders met an end to their lives on the first day of the opening of the bridge for vehicular movement.

Despite the ban, hundreds of motorcycles thronged Mawa toll plaza to cross the river this morning but most of them were turned away towards Shimulia Ferry Ghat in Munshiganj.

Interestingly, the bickers have found an alternative way and were seen crossing the river through the bridge by taking their motorcycles on pickup vans.

Protesting the government decision, a number of bickers staged demonstration in front of the Mawa toll plaza and later, the authorities dispersed them with the help of the members of law enforcement agencies.