The Padma Bridge has generated more than Tk 34.29 billion (Tk 3,429.45 crore) in toll revenue since its opening in June 2022, while all scheduled loan installments have been repaid without any arrears, according to the Bangladesh Bridge Authority (BBA).
In a press release issued on Tuesday, Bridge Division Secretary and Executive Director of the Bangladesh Bridge Authority, Mohammad Abdur Rouf, said the bridge has made a significant contribution to the national economy since it was opened to traffic on June 26, 2022, a day after its inauguration.
He said that as of June 29, 2026, a total of 26.86 million vehicles had crossed the Padma Bridge, generating Tk 3,429.45 crore in toll revenue.
The official noted that the project's feasibility study was carried out between 2002 and 2005 during the BNP-led government under then Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia. The study proposed a four-lane highway with provisions for future rail connectivity, while the Mawa-Jazira alignment was approved during that period, laying the foundation for the bridge's final design and construction.
The Padma Bridge, built entirely with the government's own funds at a cost of Tk 30,770.14 crore, has transformed connectivity with the country's southwestern region and is being operated and maintained in line with international standards, the release said.
Under the loan agreement between the Bangladesh Bridge Authority and the Ministry of Finance, the authority is required to repay Tk 36,000 crore, including interest at 1 percent, over 35 years through 140 quarterly installments.
According to the BBA, 16 loan installments totaling Tk 2,516.68 crore have already been deposited into the government treasury, with no overdue payments. In addition, Tk 436.07 crore has been paid to the government as 15 percent VAT from toll collections.
The authority reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring the bridge's safe operation, maintaining international standards, and implementing the Unified National ETC Framework (UNEF) and other initiatives aimed at developing a modern, digital transport network across the country.
